"Today I am a movie star ...

You were yesterday."

"Okay, today I will explore,

A jungle far away."

"And I live in Hollywood,

I give out autographs."

"Well, I live in Africa,

And have a pet giraffe."

"And now I am on Broadway,

And I am also on TV;

I make guest appearances,

You can appear with me."

"No, I can't. I'm sick in Africa,

And I'm very, very ill;

You must come to my bedside,

And bring a magic pill."

"You come and take good care of me,

And I'll live because of you;

I'm so glad you are my sister,

And do what sisters do."

Then, we two fall down in laughter,

My little sis and me;

Today's game is finally over,

And we end our fantasy.

There was only two years difference,

Which is not much when you're small;

It's like you have a built-in friend,

And you love her most of all.

There were times, of course, we disagreed,

Sometimes we fought and fussed;

But woe upon the outside soul,

Who dared to pick on one of us.

Right or wrong, I would defend her,

To the death I'd take my stand;

I know she'd do the same for me,

Outsiders cannot understand.

Once when we were very young,

I planned to run away;

My sister begged me not to go ...

(I can smile at this today.)

But I'd made up my little mind,

And I made it up one hill;

My sister slowly trailed behind,

(I close my eyes and see her still.)

The tears were streaming down her cheeks,

"Please don't go," my sister cried;

But I stubbornly moved on,

After all ... I had my pride.

I took another step or two,

Then she said, "I'll go tell Mom;"

That was all it took, (I guess),

For then I turned around.

I see that little tearful face,

Now in my reverie;

Then I did not know, of course,

How much she meant to me.

Well, we each grew up and did our thing,

We went out on our own;

But always we have kept in touch,

By telepathy or telephone.

I never got my pet giraffe,

Nor did I travel very far;

My sister never got in movies,

Nor became a Broadway star.

Most childhood dreams just disappear,

And adults accept their fate;

But I'm glad my sis is still around,

And we can still relate.

A truth our mother told us,

And this, I well remember ...

"One day your dad and I'll be gone,

But ... sisters are forever!"

~ Virginia (Ginny) Ellis ~
Copyright © 2000
Used with permission

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of her wonderful poems.