Strength

Inspired by Gale Carson Levine's book "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" and not all that great, in my opinion, haha. Another part of the poem project I completed years ago.

 Strength

 

One was frail and bitter,

The other strong and sweet

The two girls were distant sisters

About to do an amazing feat.

 

All their years of never knowing

Rivalry estranged the two

But inside one a danger was growing

Something was happening and no one knew.

 

One wanted to see the world

The other wanted to be safe

But fate had a challenge hurled

Of which their desires must wait.

 

In the hospital one day

The doctor came through the door

His face told what he was going to say

They were losing one little girl

 

One was brave and older

The other young and shy

She was dying from cancer

The youngest wondered why.

 

“Be brave,” she said,

“and live for me.

I can’t leave  bed

I’m sick , you see.”

 

Through her struggle they grew closer

Two sisters starting anew

They learned things about each other

That they had thought they knew.

 

They shared their thoughts and dreams

Caught each other for every fall

Soothed each other of frightened screams

And talked of memories they’d recall.

 

A year went by with little progress

Yet the sisters battled on

They could not stop until success

Was in their hands and the cancer gone.

 

But the brave sister regressed

The disease would not go away

The family hoped less and less

But the timid girl didn’t stray.

 

The eldest lay in her bed

The youngest knelt beside her

To hide her tears she bent her head

Things becoming a blur.

 

“You should live and be happy,

It’s not fair,” she cried,

“The one dying should be me

I don’t want to say goodbye.”

 

The sister turned and smiled

She hugged her little sister

She was such a little child

She would really miss her.

 

“Be brave,” she said,

“and live for me.”

One  tear she shed

whispering her plea.

 

“I promise,” she uttered,

They hugged one last time

The sister’s eyes fluttered

Soon it would be time.

 

“Be brave,” she said.

“and live for me.”

Then she lay upon her bed

To enter into eternity.

Author's Note

Not edited, just...an old poem I thought I'd shed light on.

Reviews

[Stephanie]

I read that book and I didn't really like it either, but I think this is a great poem! It was sort of epic in a way, just the way everything flowed and rhymed. Sad, yes, but also uplifting. The bond the sisters shared was the ray of sunshine in a dark situation..... Great job :]

[Jean P. Prudhomme]

Sad, to say the least. I'm wary of rhyme, forced rhyme especially, but you handled it well here.

" "Be brave," she said.
"and live for me."
Then she lay upon her bed
To enter into eternity."

Excellent way to close it.