Were You My Sister?

after cyst removal surgery

she felt the spasms, watched the dark

mass slither down the bowl

she was not surprised, she

knew she would lose you, fourth

child — Esperanza de Felicidad —

she would go on

to bear a fifth, a second boy, despite

the doctors warning

but no, no second abortion —

remembering the bleeding after the first

so nearly killed her & would have

negated three more of us —

she disregarded their male

pleadings, taught John & me to read

while growing David, yes, a

happy child but not

you, my sister