For My Sister

You were the kid with bruised-up knees

Hand-me-down coat

Pockets full of leaves

Laughing too loud in the grocery line

Saying

“One day

We’ll be fine”

This one’s for my sister

For every time you held my hand

When the world felt like a whisper

You said

“Breathe

We’ll make a plan”

You were my first safe place

My truth when I was lost

This one’s for my sister

Worth more than any cost

We shared a room and a broken lamp

Secrets scribbled on the back of stamps

You’d fix my hair before the bus

Swore you’d always stand up for us

This one’s for my sister

For every time you held my hand

When the world felt like a whisper

You said

“Breathe

We’ll make a plan”

You were my first safe place

My truth when I was lost

This one’s for my sister

Worth more than any cost

All the roads we haven’t walked yet

All the dreams we still might chase

I’ll be cheering from the front row

Every time you find your place (oh oh)

This one’s for my sister

For all the love you never name

For the quiet ways you rescue

And never ask for any praise

You are my first safe place

My truth when I feel small

This one’s for my sister

The bravest heart of all