Original poems
The Language Between Us
Some words belonged
only to us:
half a sentence,
a look across a room,
a name made ridiculous
by years of use.
I still hear that language
even when no one answers.
She Knew the Earlier Me
She knew the house
before it changed,
the faces younger,
the rules we broke,
the fears we never named.
To lose a sister
is to lose a witness
to an earlier world.
What I Carry Forward
Not a perfect story.
A real one:
love, irritation, loyalty,
shared rooms, separate lives.
I carry all of it.
I carry her name.
What this poem collection is trying to hold
This collection centers shared family history, private humor, protection, challenge and being known across different life stages. That focus is deliberate: relationship-specific verse should do more than replace “mother” with “father” or “dog” with “cat.” The imagery, emotional distance and details should change with the relationship itself.
Personalization test
Before using a poem publicly, identify one image or line that matches the person you are remembering. If none of the imagery fits, choose another poem rather than forcing the relationship label to do all the work.
Prepare this collection for its actual setting
- Read it aloud before choosing it; spoken rhythm matters at a service.
- For private use, adapt a line with a name, place, habit, or detail that belongs to the person.
- If a venue, celebrant, publication, or livestream needs text in advance, send the final version early.
- Do not attach a famous author’s name to an anonymous or rewritten poem.