The Merella Papers
A story of a discovery in six parts
Note: this poem was written about a very personal moment in my life. I met my half-sister when I was living and working in Montréal as a grad student. I saw her photograph when I was a teenager, but it was many years before we met. And I wrote this as a way to understand my emotions and feelings about chance, love and how life can throw you curves you never expect.
-K.D.
*
I.
What kind of chance did it have?
My step uncle
in a dark-grey room
(actually with more blue than imagined),
and another bed and body
(kept well-covered),
passed you to me;
a young face
in my young hands.
*
II.
From a father
this picture;
gained as a history
of men and urges,
drifting ideas
running through our time.
You, at an event
in a loose dress
and hair done
to catch the
angles of the sun,
already at one with
his eyes and a life
that was beyond the fine
edge of the frame.
*
III.
It was my secret.
This was the thought
ahead of certain patterns
that brought out my mother’s words
and this inescapable idea:
Our lies were living in the same house.
*
IV.
My brother
(again, an adoption - in name only)
brought across
the first message.
And after a night of
labour attempted with language
trapped in young minds
in a cheap room,
I had her phone call.
*
V.
All my skills
were lost;
there was only the voice and face
that could not be seen
and moved
beyond recognition.
*
VI.
You, a sister from another mother
even felt like another father.
My final stop that night
(nicely enough): Union Station.
Meeting in the dark
should have kept us apart.
It was also the Easter week-end;
three days for our miracle.
The hugs were generous.
The cabbies and vendors approved.
You thanked me for that night;
your hair scratched my skin.
Chance played like a dance.
Our lives were understood and stilled.
*
Thank you for reading!
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About the Creator
Kendall Defoe
Teacher, reader, writer, dreamer... I am a college instructor who cannot stop letting his thoughts end up on the page. No AI. No Fake Work. It's all me...
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Comments (21)
I have a few of those moments myself. So I much understand your emotive words...so happy you opened your mind to receiving, not everyone is that generous. Congrats.
Kendall, this was so moving. Congratulations on your top story! I am delighted you met your sister and wish you two all the best for a loving relationship.
Congratulations on your top story!! Great poetry, my children through ancestry found a brother that their dad never knew about. There dad is deceased now. His high school girlfriend moved and he went into the service. Their brother was adopted out. He is not staying in touch, even though my children would like that.❤️Sad!😢
This was very powerful, Kendall. I hope you have developed a good relationship with your sister. Children shouldn't be responsible for their parents' mistakes and behaviors.
This poem carries so much depth and emotion. The way you capture the weight of connection and history through moments and imagery is truly moving. 🙂
TOP STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!
Back to say congrats on Top Story, Kendall!!! 🎉
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
'Sup - Kd ~ Many of us can relate to this, I'm certain in our own ways. At 16 I dated my Step-Cousin, no relation at all, but I was shunned to a point that we broke up. Best to you in Canada..! Jk
This is so lovely, and so honest. I'm glad you got to meet her. Congrats on the TS.
oh my gosh...you smashed my heart with a young face in my young hands. What a perfect top story
A young face in my young hands, aw. This is so precious. Wow. I really like II. I was vybing with the way her hair was done to catch the angles of the sun. ‘Our lies were living in the same house.’ Deep and profound lines, with complex emotions hidden inside it, are my weakness. 👌🏽 Ooh man. I am at the end and this was GOOD. A little peak into your mind and memory. I felt as though I was living in your mind. The moments you collected was so vivid. I especially liked these lines near the end: ‘ My final stop that night (nicely enough): Union Station.’ And. ‘Chance played like a dance. Our lives were understood and stilled.’ This reads like you were in the zone. Which means this is one of your best works. Absolutely fantastic! 👏🏽👌🏽
Love the format you chose to covey this story and message. Super congrats on this special TS!
When you are at your most vulnerable and open, Kendall. There is a real power to your writing. Absolutely loved this. Loved how tender it was, like Donna said. Love how it was almost like we were carried along with your musings, ruminations and processing of the emotions and thoughts surrounding the realisation and meeting with your sister. I am glad they gave you a Top Story for this one, sir, because it really deserves recognition. Beautiful work and glad you have a relationship with your sister!
"Our lies were living in the same house." I especially loved that line!
Fantastic!!! Lovely gratitude family poem!!!
Blessings, Kendall.
Really loved reading this 🏆⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤍I can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster that was
I love this Kendall! This was well written and had such a tender feel to it, I could really feel you sifting through your thoughts and feelings in this one! Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing it with us!
Oh Kendall. This was so good. Love the line about ' our lies were living in the same house'. I hope you're still able to be in touch with your sister.