The Jericho Road Poem by Holly Gardner

We were irish twins
Small, giggley and golden
The same age part of each year
And that was all.

Twins and the same
So much so that to some
We were the same person
For long years, of peacetime mostly.

Some still believe
We are just branches
On the nicest shrub
Or the two arms of an angel.

If one transgressed
We were both punished
Those two better behave
Mother ran our names together.

But I worry I don't know you now.
It's not by choice
I've searched. I've called.
You don't answer.

And i wonder sometimes now
If you'll rest. The suffering so obviously
Building, budding attacking every cell
Hoping for healing hugs and tears.

I wasn't expecting this.
Liquid realization.
No, not this.
But i love you still.

Even though I'm trying to breathe in gum. A large bubble around me.
Do you remember the candies she bought us?

When she taught us people have rights.