Sistering Special
The sistering special reveals itself
In the undertones of Joy
Streaking under the table
Between the knees of sisters here
Our made to order coffees
in the mugs we brought from home
take our eyes attention
To the table top’s swirling conversation
Between sips of foaming creativity
circles of coffee rings connections
scratched napkins of ideas
Yet I feel the sistering special
underneath their breathy voices
For the shared life lived since birth
For the shared life to be until death
Between the knees of sisters here
I feel an unspoken enthusiasm
For the secret ingredient of sistering
Whatever clatterings of life’s tabletop
With its spinning plates of complexity
Chipped mugs of adversity
Shattered vessels of grief
Folded linen hats of laughter
Over flowing containers of hope
Missing silverware of confusion
Clanging glassware of celebration
Stacked dirty dishes of overwhelm
Salt & pepper shakers of tears & spice
Bowls of water, and single stem vases
of life’s exquisitely simple beauty
Whatever clatterings of life’s tabletop
The special is never found on the menu
The sister special reveals itself
In the love I sense underneath the table
between the knees of sistering
For all the under the table witnessing
that others will never see—
For all the taken to the knees
moments of joy and grief,
For all the messy & skinned knees
moments of joy and grief
For all the bruised & ticklely knees
moments of joy and grief
For all the sistering between the knees
Of a hand always right there
Cupping quietly with compassion or
Tapping playfully with life’s clattering
on one bare knee or another
The wordless Joy of sistering LOVE
Under the tabletop I feel here
Makes my own knees want to dance…
