[Little sister never born]
Little sister never born,
I’d have told you
everything—
83 thoughts on "[Little sister never born]"
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Little sister never born,
I’d have told you
everything—
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Wow. Kevin, this is powerful and heartbreaking. The length only adds to the depth. I’ll be pondering this one for a while. Thank you for creating and sharing.
Thanks, H.A. I appreciate you.
I second this 100%
<3 <3 <3
What HA said.
Thanks, Joseph!
Very heartfelt!
Thanks, John!
I like the em dash following everything because it’s not a full stop. It belies the word everything with a suggestion that there’s still somehow more.
Thanks, Philip! I hadn’t thought that through, really, but I think you’re exactly right. The dash is there to tempt the reader to extend the poem in their own mind. Maybe this is part of what Emily Dickinson was doing? I wouldn’t put it past her.
Oh !!!!!
Just that.
Thanks Coleman. I pondered which of these to post first this month. It’s a new style of haiku for me, as you know: non-syllabic, fewer words, more ethereal I guess. It was hard to give up 5/7/5, which maybe I’d been using as a crutch. We’ll see how it goes.
Dang Kevin. Trying not to start June crying, but….
Thanks, Liz! Didn’t really want to make you cry, sweet lady.
I’ll be posting some lighter & funnier stuff this month, for contrast…
Word master!
Takes one to know one, darlin
Wow. Very good!
Thanks Lauren!
Very poignant, Kevin. That em dash at the end feels perfect—like the conversation is still waiting to happen.
Thanks, Jeremy! Philip, above, also mentioned the dash. Are we onto something here?
as it is
and will be
that something was
until it was gone
Thanks, Jim.
Your poem today just about destroyed me, btw.
so succinct, so compelling
Thanks, Arwen!
I can sing this! Beautiful.
I wish you would, Miss Roberta Songbird…
Coming in hot, Kevin!! I like the new haiku you.
Thanks, Sylvia! Looking forward to reading you this month and beyond…
Looking forward to reading your work once again this June!
Ditto, River!
heartbreaking dash for all that might have been
Thanks Gaby!
Great work, Kevin. Love everything about it, from the beginning to that “perfect” ending.
Thanks Nancy!
A compressed jewel!
What is missing
is what I felt.
So good.
Thanks Manny!
So powerful! All is said, including the giant void. I look forward to reading more of your poetry this month, Kevin!
Thanks Fanny! And ditto.
I agree with the heartbreaking and the dash. Reminds me a bit of Hemingway’s 6 word story.
Thanks Nettie!
Wow, you’ve packed so much — everything — into three lines. I really admire the compactness of this.
Thanks Tom!
Reminds me how powerful a few words can be!
Thanks Wayne!
So much loss and yearning in so few words. A master of the form.
Thanks Bill!
The void is palpable. The compounding emotion is not only interesting, but quite dynamic in the juxtaposition of the void and the filling of the void. I love the way you encompass reality and fantasy so succinctly simultaneously.
Kevin, Honestly, I can not stop thinking about what you did here in this poem. It’s haunting, really.
Thanks, Winter! I’ve been inspired recently by Robert Hass’s translations of Basho, Buson and Issa. The book is available online and elsewhere; can’t recommend it enough.
Ahhh, I love Hass! His book, “The Apple Trees at Olema” is one of my favorite poetry books ever! Also, I just recently picked up his “A Little Book on Form” which informative and intriguing! Now, I’ve got to get the one you recommended!
I relate.
Thanks Lee!
Amazing how so few words can make me feel such a big ache!
Thanks Lisa!
This tiny poem punches powerful!
A huge compliment coming from you, Pam! Thank you,
Proof you can say a lot in a little. Well done
Thanks, hb!
You just expressed something I didn’t know I felt. Thank you.
That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received as a poet, Mary! Thank you.
You’re welcome, Kevin. To offer you context, I’m stealing your haiku out-right to share my own story:
[Big brother never known]
Big brother never known
I’d have told you
everything —
🙏
Oof. In the best way. </3
Thanks, RJ!
Its always good to spend time with your poems, Kevin.
Ditto, Shaun!
Powerful!
Thanks, Carole!
What a haunting, tender poem. Amazing, how so few words can convey such heartbreak and reverence. Love the em dash at the end–so evocative. Can’t wait to read all your poems, Kevin.
The feeling is mutual, Karen! You are one of my favorite LexPoMo writers, you know that?
There is such a tender longing/yearning in this poem… like your new experimenting with different haiku approaches. Bravo…
Thanks, Marianne! About half of the poems I post this month will be this new type of haiku / senryu…
Subbed “daughter” and sobbed, and didn’t mind. That’s what makes it so powerful. We must think on these things we experience. Thank you.
Thanks Allen!
A lump in my throat, Mr. Nance. I will be rolling this one around in my mind for a while.
Thanks Missy!
Palpable sense of loss here. The brevity of it serves it really well.
Thank you, Botched! (Something tells me that your pen name is not entirely accurate.)
This couldn’t be any more poignant.
Thanks Ellen!
You leave the poem open—like an unlived life.
Exactly, Joe! So glad you’ve joined us again this year.
So profound!
Thanks Taunja!