My Sister

My Sister

(Forever a draft)

By Christine Lee Harris

Preface

I started working on this poem almost 10 years ago when I was 14 years old. I have hesitated finishing it if for so long because no matter how much I work on it, I still feel it is not good enough to express my true emotions and views on this subject. Perhaps it is akin to a painter trying to capture the essence of a sunset. He may be continually disappointed because a sunset is so breathtakingly beautiful that mere oils and canvas could never do it justice. It may be that the feelings I am trying to express in this poem could never be adequately portrayed on paper. Therefore you will notice that I have labeled the poem as a draft because I have given up the expectation that it I will ever be satisfied.

I began to write this poem after someone went on a tangent about what a burden my sister must be to take care of and what a terrible life she must have. At the time I was startled speechless by such a statement. This poem is what I would have liked to say back to that individual.

My sister is a burden, many say
She cannot walk, she cannot talk
She must be bathed, she must be fed
She is such a burden, is what they say

My sister is a blessing, I respond
Her bright smile fills the room
Her happy spirit cheers our family
My sister is the blessing, is what I say

My sister is deprived, the experts declare
Her quality of life is sub-optimal
Oh, how she must suffer, constrained in such a body
She is destitute, is what they say

My sister has a response which they cannot understand
If quality of life was measured by joy and cheerfulness,
By the size of a smile or the quality of a laugh
My sister has a better life than they will ever know

My sister is unproductive, DALY calculations state
Society will never get back the labor invested in her
She has reduced the economic productivity of our country
She doesn’t contribute to our society, is what they say

My sister is a teacher, I reply with a grin
She provides the opportunity for others to show perfect love
For, is this not our most valuable skill?
My sister brings out the best in our society, is what I say

My sister should be pitied, the righteous announce
She will never win a swimming competition
Never get first place in a spelling bee, or learn ballet
We should be grateful for our abilities, is what they say

My sister knows a secret, they do not
True happiness does not come from possessions, competition and success
But from unhindered love, unconstrained by worldly concerns
My sister knows true happiness, of this, I am sure

This is a picture of my sister.