Portrait as Sisterhood

Sweet we are
Butter cookie crumbles in your mouth
The sugar granules dare
Catch between your teeth
Force you to slow down
Feel each icicle slide along your ribs.

Strong we are
Whalebone stays for tissue-paper pattern
We cut ourselves a size smaller
Gathered flowers and silk to hold
Close to our hearts.

Storms we are
If you are thunder
We are tornados. Where you are hollow
Threats, we touch the soil
Blaze a trail; a gash torn by nail
Commemorate crimson and violet in
Canyon and landslide.

Stories we are
Beautiful survivors laid bare in
Ink and pigment. Honor us with words
Where we wept, we also sang.