One Afternoon in Maine
When my sister tells me
she needs therapy because of me,
she is lying on the old green sofa.
I thought we were talking together
about the northwest breeze,
the rosa rugosa, the possibility
of a lobster roll for lunch.
When my sister tells me
she needs therapy because of me,
I can’t think of a single thing to say.
I look out the window at the ocean,
wonder if it’s dead low tide,
if there is still time left
to get outside
and dig for clams.
*
Brooke Herter James is the winner of the 2024 Fish Poetry Prize. Her poems have appeared in ONE ART, Rattle, Orbis, Tulip Tree Review and other publications. She is the author of four poetry chapbooks and one children’s picture book. She lives on a hillside in Vermont.
I can so relate as the sibling with two other sisters.
At least she told you about the therapy.
I have sisters and they are my therapy, but yes, I get it. I love the “I thought we were talking together.”