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Dear Sister I Never Knew
I never got to see your eyes
Till they were already closed
Only in the frames
That hang
On the wall
Did I get to see the glow
You gave
With your soft gentle eyes
With which you never got to see the world
All the beauty it can hold
Though it also spared you many pains
My dear
So maybe
That was a blessing
In disguise
I never got to give you a piggy back ride
Never blew bubbles on your nose
I never got to change your diaper
which might sound weird or dumb
But it would've totally made my days
And lit my heart
When you'd squirm
And giggle
And make it hard
I didn't get to touch your face
Till it was pale and breathless
I never got to see you pace
Like a nervous wreck
When mom would be late
To pick us up
From lessons
I never got to hold you
When you felt restless
I never got to hold your hand
Your gently curled fingers
Till they were frozen
Like ice on land
The numb still silently lingers
I never got to run my fingers
Through your soft curly hair
Or braid it for you in years to come
When you were on your way to class
Or church
Or even just for fun
Sometimes I imagine
What is almost like memory
Things that would've eventually happened
If you hadn't left so soon
Like how I never got to be the one
To pull you against my shoulder
Let you tell me all your secrets
That you didn't feel like
Mom and dad could know
First owie
First friend
First fist fight
First period
First kiss
First love
All those things
That it feels like there's no one to go to
To talk to about it
You could've come to me
Just cause I was your big sister
And I would've been the one
You could've come to
To talk about all your boy drama
And complain about the snobs at class
That stick up their nose to
Someone with down
Even though that's not even within control
And I'd pull you against my shoulder
With a sisterly kiss on the forehead
And tell you they only look down
On someone with down
Because they don't know what it feels like
To be them
And tell you if they picked on you
To send them big sister's way
And I'd deal with them
Because nobody talks bad on my sister
Or they have to answer to me
I would've walked with you to lessons everyday
I would've colored pictures with you
I would've made you a bracelet
To latch against your tanned skin
To always remind you
A promise to carry
Big sis is always there
I would've been there at your graduation
Cheering you on
I would've been the one
In the back
Screaming for you
Getting weird judgmental glances
From all around
But not caring at all
I'd shout above the crowd
Cause I'd be cheering for my sister
Like it would be the last thing
She'd ever hear
And at your wedding
I would've been there
I would've taken you out beforehand
To get a Mani
A Pedi
A tan
A gorgeous dress that would not make you shine
But simply bring out the shine
You've always had
And show it to the world
Cause there's no dress in the world
That could shine as bright as you
Only embrace the glow
You already show
I would've watched you walk down the isle
Surrounded by flowers
And light
I would've stood on the side watching
And cheering
And smiling up at you
With tears in my eyes
Remembering all our our childhood
Memories
And every time I was by your side
I would've knelt on the floor when you were a baby
Just learning to crawl
Held my arms out to catch you
So when you'd fall
You'd fall into me
Your big sis
I would've held your hand and walked alongside you
From your first steps
Through your last
When you laughed
I would've laughed along with you
When you cried I would've caught your tears
As mine fell
I would've rocked you to sleep as an infant
So mom could get some rest
I'd sing you lullabies I wrote
And hold you tight
Rockabye
Till you fell asleep
When I got home from work to see your smile
I'd smile
Because seeing your face would've lit my day
I would've been there for you
As I should've
If I could've
I would've
Like big sister's should
Dear sister
Dear baby
Dear little one
So gentle
And precious
I just want you to know
I know you can't hear me
Though I wish you could
So you'd know what I wish I could've done
I wish I could've lived with you
And watched you grow up
Grow old together
Been there since birth
I love you
I miss you
I wish I could've
Seen you
And touched you
And held you
Before you were gone
But alas, that is not how it was meant to be
I never got to see you
Or touch you
Or hold you
Till you had already moved on
But that's okay
I can take comfort
Based in what I believe
That your rooted in Heaven
Forever more be
Where there is no more pain
No more tears
No more death
No more hospital walls
The last of which may seem dumb
But I find it comforting
Since that's the only place
You lived your life
And it's a far cry from where you are now
So dear sister
I'm happy for you
I'm glad you're in peace
I don't need to hurt
Because I know you're not hurting anymore
And that comforts my heart
Every part
So though it still hurts
It's okay
Just know
I love you
I miss you
I wish you were here
But I'm glad you are no longer suffering
And I pray
One day
I'll meet you in person
And get to meet you
And speak to you
In person
Perhaps in the life to come
Dear sister
Though these may merely be
The imaginings of a broken heart
Who misses the sister
She never knew
But I can tell you honestly
When I stand over the grave
The stone
Under which
I once ago saw you laid
With flowers atop
On which we left for you
Many claim an aura of gloom
Is the only thing
A cemetery
Can bring forth
And yes
Tears fill my eyes
As I stand over the stone
But as I look to the sky
I feel shine
Ray of hope
A gentle breeze
A whisper
Lost in the wind
But maybe
Just maybe
Dear sister
I pray
One day
I'll see you again
But not just see you
Meet you
With your gorgeous eyes open
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In 2021, I lost a sister that I never knew. All throughout my mother's pregnancy, I couldn't wait for my little sister to come. When my mom went in to have the baby, they checked everything, and it was all fine. There were no problems. But during the birth, something went wrong. My mom nearly died in the childbirth, and my sister, was born dead. They resuscitated her for 25 minutes till her chest was black and blue by the time they brought her back. They life flighted her out to Primary Children's hospital to get her on life support. After my mom was okay, she and my dad flew out to stay with her. I was with my grandma this whole time, so I didn't find out any of this till after the fact. All I knew was my mom went in to have the baby one day, and she and my dad came back 2 weeks later with no baby. But they'd flown out to stay with her. Later, I got to hear stories about that. They'd held her, bathed her, talked to her, sang to her, and just stayed with her. The whole time she was on life support. Turns out, had she lived, she would've had down syndrome, (The references in this poem to being (someone with down, ) That's what that is) and would've likely had to live on life support for the rest of her life. She only lived two weeks, and then passed. My parents came home afterward. I learned this after the fact. I remember after my mom went in to have her, I remember being excited to meet my sister. Then, the following day I heard something went wrong, and mom and dad wouldn't be home for a while. I wasn't allowed details, but just needed assured mom was okay, and I got that. So, it was okay. It was a restless confusing two weeks, and I just wanted my parents, and to meet my sister. I remember, then, two weeks later, my grandma announced mom and dad were coming home. I was so excited. And I'd finally get to meet my sister! I remember, when they unlocked the front door, I was right there, ready to meet my sister. And when it opened, it was an immediate dark fall, somber moment. I met my parents eyes. I wasn't a genius 13 year old, but smart enough to know something was wrong. Their faces were completely worn, like they'd aged 100 years. Their faces were so heavily tearstained, and they had nearly black circles under their eyes. My parents eyes immediately filled with tears when they met my eyes. I remember it was like time stopped. I looked down. No baby in their arms. No carrier. No blanket. Just an ominous devastating expression on mom and dad's faces. I remember it just froze then. My heart sank and started racing at the same time. My body just, almost inwardly convulsed. I felt my heart, literally shatter. Tears burned my eyes, and my mouth twinged at the corners with painful heartbreak. My parents started crying, and reached for me, and I turned and ran into my room and shut the door. I was so overwhelmed in shock, I dropped to the floor, shaking and gagging on sobs. I could hear my parents and my grandma outside, crying and my siblings asking them questions. I felt a numb buzzing take through me, and I was just consumed in an empty, broken devastation. It felt like I was sinking in a never-ending black pit. Eventually, I was able to talk to them about it. We went to her funeral, and I was just so, empty. So confused. So conflicted. So torn. And I didn't understand how it could hurt so much for someone I didn't even know. But it was like I just had a giant piece torn out of my heart, and left me empty. I don't think I've ever been so numb or in so much pain ever. It was so hard. And I'd never gotten to see her, till I was at her funeral. My mom brought me her cold, frozen, pale body, and rested it in my arms so I could hold her. I shook holding her. I was holding my sister. But she was... dead. It was so crazy to see, and feel something death touched in person. It almost, consumes you with empty numbness. It's awful. It hurt so much. I feel like our whole family was silent and distant for months after that, and all we ever did was cry. I thought I'd never come through it. Yet here I am. It's been 5 years now. And, I just wrote this poem for my sister that I love and never knew. I've seen pictures of her from when she was alive though, and she was beautiful. Gorgeous thick, dark, curly hair. Beautiful eyes you could lose yourself in. Soft, tan skin. Gentle hands. She was so beautiful. Her name is Mireya, which means miracle. Sorry if that was too much background or emotion for you guys, but... I needed this.