Old Photograph
by John Grey



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.





Illya's Honey Literary Journal

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