My Mum saw her sobbing backstage
after the elocution competitions —
second to my first. We were eight.
Grew up in the same suburb,
came to each other’s birthday parties,
attended High School together.
Thirty years later, surprise:
reunion onstage in another city,
reciting our own works.
Awhile inhabited the same
publications, venues, academies.
Supported each other, allies.
Went different ways again:
fiction her love, poetry mine —
rivalry, like childhood, past.
30 Poems in 30 Days, 2010: 12
Prompt: A poem about a rivalry
Cross-posted from my Verse Portraits blog: Impressions You Left
This is lovely. I like the resolution, how you end it right where you should, without too much resolution--as much a new beginning as an ending. Very fine...your usual solid work. Thank you, peace,
ReplyDeleteDiane
Why thank you, Diane!
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