I Remember

The girl in this poem is the narrator's sister.

Every once in a while

I remember.

I remember why

People always ask her

"What happened?"

I remember the rain

And the digital temperature:

32.

I remember why

She is always there--

Sometimes before me,

Often beside me,

Mostly behind me,

Pushing me.

I remember the slush,

Silvery gray,

Creamy like homemade ice cream

(The kind you don't

Let sit long enough,

So it's harder than cream

But softer than ice).

I remember why she

Has to get close,

Open her eyes wide,

Hold my head steady

In her hands;

Her warm, loving hands.

"This is your friend,

Remember her?

Remember your friend?"

I remember the puddles

Shining, glimmering

Like silver mirrors,

Reflecting the cotton sky.

I remember my advice:
"When you drive over water

You can hydroplane.

You lose control.

It's like driving over ice,

But you can feel it more.

It tugs on your wheel.

Whoa!

Like that, see?

That'll happen if your going too fast.

I'm only going--

About 50."

Five under the limit.

Not that fast, right?

I remember why

She tells the same story

Over and over and over,

And why,

Every time,

They look so concerned,

Frightened,

Interested.

I remember the radio:

"Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas."

I remember the jolt

Of the first swerve.

I remember her scream

At the next swerve.

I remember being calm

As we spun around.

I remember thinking--

Thinking so fast--

Thinking we could just

Slide into the field

Until the old snow

Stopped the car

By itself.

No brakes.

I remember why

I can't remember.

I remember the poles.

Two massive masts with electric sails

Stuck into the side of the road.

We were going to hit them--

Both of them.

I remember why

She has to take care of me.

I remember the fear

Buried beneath the calm.

I remember the brake

Succumbing to my leg.

I remember it could move once.

I remember why

She wants to take care of me.

I remember the torque,

The flip-dee-do of the world,

The cascade of liquid glass,

The warmth of my blood,

The pressure on my legs,

My arms,

My head...

Every once in a while,

I remember why she adds,

"He saved my life."

But then I forget again.

Author's Note

Rolled the Yukon the other day. Nearly zero damage to me, my sister, or even the car. It could have been a lot worse... like this.

Reviews

[MuSe Ampoule]

Wow, this blew me away! Great, great job. I got all teary-eyed at the end. Happy that you and your sis didn't get hurt, it is a scary thing loosing control that much. This tale was well woven and compelling. You did good!

[Drako]

wow, glad no one was hurt. but the fact that you can get this poem out of your experience, in which no damage was actually done, shows how great of a writer you must be

[Worms]

yikes glad noone was hurt
anyway amazing poem
dark tragic story, but great poem