the depressed sister

She’s the depressed sister

*

She lags behind and feels ignored

When no one slows down to wait

Even though she knows they know

She carries willful weight

*

She’s the depressed sister

She goes silent to ward off conversations

And when they come she can’t find her tongue

She hides in the sewage of her mind

*

She’s the depressed sister

Her countenance only brightened

By temporary things

Or fragile things

Her grip is tight

*

She’s the depressed sister

Not selected for company

Put to the side for fear of igniting her pain

Angering her brother

Feeling “other”

Even her mother

Is perturbed by her moods

*

She’s the depressed sister

She needs to stop pushing

This weight against all who come near

Her biggest obstacle is fear

She used to be strong and brave

Now she lives in a cave

She doesn’t know how deep to go

She wants out

But can’t turn around

Will someone drag her back?

Who cares for the depressed sister?

She only makes things bitter

She’s dying, the depressed sister

She’s dying

*

~S.L.