Wednesday, March 8, 2023

"Middle Child"

 



















Middle child
between curly hair with doe brown eyes
and an only son
one five years ahead, the other five behind
imitating the elder while
lingering in childhood with the younger
envying her poised elegance and
longing for his sweet innocence

Middle child   
between worldliness and naiveté   
flanked by her play for independence 
and his everlasting childhood    
expecting more from myself  
learning by her mistakes 
benefiting when parents learn  
it’s something kids just do  

Middle child   
between reserved solitude
and gentle attachment 
becoming reliable and resilient  
out of necessity and then habit  
passing white glove inspections    
knitting and purling the blanket of family 
needing its comforting warmth   

Copyright 2011 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

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