sister (1990) Poem by Amber Atiya

she not short, not tall, snickers
brown, live in a room, walls
kinda white, kinda yellow
like her teeth. no tv. no radio.
her best friend goldie a gold
fish. she wanna teach me goldie
language. ma say no.
the pills make her sleepy
and fat and forget goldie
language.
if she can't talk to goldie
who she gon' talk to?
i say me. she say you
just a kid.
i say ma. she roll
eyes, place a pill on her tongue.
sis and goldie plan a trip
to the moon
say i should come play
pokeno, eat fluffanutter
sandwiches. if the weather
nice maybe they stay for good.
but how they gettin there?
and if i go
how i'm gettin back?
once i ask how she talk to goldie.
same way that white boy
talk to pooh.
sometimes
i just don't believe it.
then again.
sometimes i do.