"Sister" by Merrijane Rice

You swallow sorrow

like knives slicing

down to your heart.

I want to gather you,

press the pieces together,

stanch the bleeding—

but I fear you like

a wounded animal.

Will you whimper or snarl,

snap or cower,

cringe at my touch?

I circle,

reach out,

offer my crumbs,

try to slip in

and shift the burden

sideways.

This piece was published in 2013 as part of the 2nd Annual Mormon Lit Blitz by the Mormon Lit Lab. Sign up for our newsletter for future updates.