Author: lonestarvoice.org Page 5 of 25

eldest

eldest daughter is synonymous
with the phrase third parent
the two go hand-in-hand together
much like she does with them

by the time she was nine
she was the eldest daughter
or was it third parent
to four younger children

it was easy to resent it
this title of eldest daughter
and also that of third parent
she certainly did not ask for them

because being a child
who is the eldest daughter
and also the third parent
took quite the toll on her

the real parents worked all day
so being the eldest daughter
and third parent was needed
hard and exhausting as it was

but do not misunderstand her
because the eldest daughter
and third parent titles are ones
that she wears with utter pride

of course it was a challenge
serving both as eldest daughter
and third parent to those children
but her love for them prevailed

truly she is grateful for her roles
firstly as the eldest daughter
and lastly as the third parent
for they gave her a purpose

today things are far more simple
now she is only the eldest daughter
as a third parent is no longer needed
but know that she remembers it fondly

it was because of these times spent
as the eldest daughter and then
the third parent that she could watch
as those children grew up wonderfully

eldest daughter is synonymous
with the phrase third parent
the two go hand-in-hand together
much like she does with them

Snow Bank by: Monica Santana, Archival Ink Jet Print, 2019

🔊 Play

Ski Trip

The white-capped mountains
Of Colorado stood boldly
As if to say,
“Here I am.
A thing you people
cannot destroy.”

Careful, Sir.
Humanity is best
Not provoked. 

You ought to know better. 
We have destroyed
Much braver things
Than you.