This week a sort of indulgence for me, writes Poetry Editor Gill Ward.
“July 4th is the 13th anniversary of my twin sister, Jackie, dying.

Jackie was brave and stoic
She was brave and stoic for a long time and I did tell her not to die and she did say ‘I’m trying not to.’
So this is one of my poems for her. You will see it’s about coming to terms. This poem was in my 2011 collection. Poetic Explanations (Kupu Press).
It was also printed in the Dom Post about that time. It was the poem they chose from the book so I feel confident about sharing it with you all. Gill
My sister wears a wig.
(after the treatment)
I look at you and think
you are still beautiful
but
you are the all the books I have never read
all the conversations I have never had
all the places I have never visited
and I think
too late
too late
and yet you are still beautiful
and still
me, churning and restless
tossed in a maelstrom
of fear, energy, rage,
injustice.
Yet
so long together
twin to twin
how can this be unfair
can I not recognise the
gifts
be grateful
be accepting?
Today I glimpsed you
bald
and thought
this is truth.
Denial grabbed her bag
of tricks and fled.

That is a play house behind us in the photo. Our dad built it with old packing cases. We could get into it and if a friend came to play there was room for 3.