[Laika]: 661.Poetry.Crime of Passion.I

1

sister sat beneath the portrait
a book on her lap, larger than herself
bloody bitten lips moved
mother's reading, sister said, to me, out loud

the girl hid from dad's heavy boots
behind the velvet curtain
saw an old man, bent shoulders
fingers twisting the frame


2

when the light grew brighter and the portrait was covered
sister stayed silent
         a tree is silent when it falls
         when nobody's there to hear
she came anyhow, with her book
looked through the cloth like only a child can

sister smashed the windows of her chamber
for April to come
as raw air, with cruel wings
slept until noon, and longer