Sister, Dearest
by Ruth Sabath Rosenthal
Vanilla milk shake, chocolate chip cookies,
Chocolate Kisses, Peanut-butter cups,
Nonpareils: I feel — no — need to, eat
those sweets you craved. So, I shop
my local supermarket, whip up
the shake, arrange the other confections
on an ornate serving plate, on this
the 1st anniversary of your death;
and I eat those foods you would have
yet I do not savor a morsel. But,
not to worry, dearest, for next year,
same date, I’ll do this again, and maybe,
just maybe, I’ll find it easier to
enjoy what you most surely would have,
if only I’d realized there was no time
left, as I held your hand and watched
American Idol while you morphed into what-
ever it is one becomes in death.
PHOTO: Twin sisters Ruth and Renee at age one.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ruth Sabath Rosenthal is a New York poet, well published in the U.S. and internationally. Her poem “on yet another birthday” was nominated for a Pushcart prize. Ruth has authored five books of poetry: Facing Home (a chapbook), Facing Home and beyond, little, but by no means small, Food: Nature vs Nurture, and Gone, but Not Easily — all available from Amazon. Please feel free to visit Ruth’s website: www.newyorkcitypoet.com.
Author photo courtesy of poetryvlog.com/ruthsabathrosenthal.
Silver Birch Press 
Sad. I hope the sweetness returns. Wonderful picture at age one year.
Aww.. I too am an identical twin. My twin is still well alive, though we live 8 hours drive away from eachother. Thanks for your poem, I promise I will text her today and tell her I’m glad she is here!
My sad condolences on your loss.I hope she is on the other side waiting for you in a good place.