Mother, sister and I
in the back yard.
One pegging clothes
to the line,
a second pouting
and me with a toy airplane
in my hand
piloting it as far
as my legs can take me.
My mother died ten years ago,
my sister continues
to fight breast cancer
and I live on the other side
of the world.
No wonder nothing
in this photograph
seems real.
And yet, here I am,
staring into it,
doing my best
to bring these people
to life.
First step
is to have them feel familiar.
Next step is to make them
who they are.
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