Although Twin is older by almost an hour—
of course the birth got complicated when it was my turn—
he doesn’t act older. He is years softer than I will ever be.
When we were little, I would come home
with bleeding knuckles and Mami would gasp
and shake me: “¡Muchacha, siempre peleando!
Why can’t you be a lady? Or like your brother?
He never fights. This is not God’s way.”
And Twin’s eyes would meet mine
across the room. I never told her
he didn’t fight because my hands
became fists for him. My hands learned
how to bleed when other kids
tried to make him into a wound.
My brother was birthed a soft whistle:
quiet, barely stirring the air, a gentle sound.
But I was born all the hurricane he needed
to lift—and drop—those that hurt him to the ground.
~ Elizabeth Acevedo, “More about Twin” in The Poet X (HarperTeen, March 6, 2018)
The Poet X, highly recommended.
Notes:
- Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American poet and author. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel and NY Times Bestseller, The Poet X, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
- Portrait of Elizabeth Acevedo via wbur.com
Live & Learn 
She has a way with words…
LikeLiked by 1 person
she does…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like a whip! She’s amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, what a hurricane of a writer. She sure paints not with a brush but with clouds, fire and compassion.
Another keeper (in my mind). Thanks for sharing her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
She sure is. Here’s another:
I once watched my father peel an orange
without once removing the knife from the fruit.
He just turned and turned and turned it like a globe
being skinned. The orange peel becoming a curl,
the inside exposed and bleeding. How easily he separated
everything that protected the fruit and then passed the bowl
to my mother, dropping that skin to the floor
while the inside burst between her teeth.
~ Elizabeth Acevedo, “Things You Think While You’re Kneeling on Rice That Have Nothing to Do with Repentance:” in The Poet X (HarperTeen, March 6, 2018)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Goodness me; I can just taste the juicy orange – its soft, perky, flesh & slightly zingy, slightly sugary elixir exploding in my mouth…. This Elizabeth, she is SO very good.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Late into the night I write and
the pages of my notebook swell
from all the words I’ve pressed onto them.
It almost feels like
the more I bruise the page
the quicker something inside me heals.
~ Elizabeth Acevedo, “from All the Way Hype” in The Poet X (HarperTeen, March 6, 2018)
LikeLiked by 2 people
stop it; it’s unbearably beautiful, so much so it hurts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLike
mighty powerful writer and I know you are fighting for your own brother right now –
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Thank you Beth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fighting for your brother is a life long job. Love this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. It sure is Darlene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a cracking poem! I’ve just ordered the book! Sounds too good to miss!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Highly recommend it!
LikeLike
Thank you for this morning blessing of words soft as the snow falling outside my window. They hit me as clear as a fist punching into the air on a cry of, “He’s not heavy. He’s my brother.”
She just rendered my heart soft and you and your brother are in my thoughts.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Aww, I so love that song (He ain’t heavy. He’s my Brother.”) Thanks for the warm thoughts Louise.
LikeLiked by 2 people
me too! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you.
For turning on the waterworks this morning, 🙂 and for the warm, gentle touch of memory. My brother was 49 when life became a burden too heavy for him to carry. When I referred to the song yesterday, I was immersed in the beauty of the poetry you’d shared. This morning, I am awash in memories of my brother — a beautiful gift on this soft morning. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, thank you for sharing Louise. Happy Thanksgiving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Louise, that’s one of my favourite quotes and songs too!!! And I also think of the bible quote of the ‘I have been left all alone. You (God) have forgotten me when I needed you most.’
But no! That was when the one set of foot prints was God’s and the guy was getting carried by God…. (well, that’s not a very good résumé but you know what I mean!).
And it’s always crazily moving how words, a song, a few cited lines can trigger so much more than ‘just’ a quick read…. David and you and all those who comment (or not) prove this day after day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. She’s amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My kids were like this. My daughter defended her younger brother who was mild even though he got mad at times. They weren’t twins, but only 14 months apart in age.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful…
LikeLike
My sister’s twins are girl and boy and Kellie to this day defends her “little” brother Shane, though they are 26 years old…Plus, he’s on the spectrum so she is fierce to his gentle.
Thank you for sharing this fabulous poet. I think I needs must add her to my bookshelf – not the kindle version.
We find the words to help us deal with our real life, don’t we? Hugs to you and Brother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dale.
LikeLike
I just clicked on the link to Poet X and before I knew it, I had read 35 pages!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! She’s amazing!
LikeLike