For My Older Sister

You were brisk with your walking
Ignoring Oregon, and all unsaid
Before the goodbye
I fell behind admiring a slug
Knelt to let it crawl across my palm
I imagined your toys
Dusty, in our attic of ancient things

Your next hike was without me 
For my stomach was slurring with slugs
Alone, I lay in the van
And felt the slime inside me
I should’ve asked you to stay

Remember when we freed photos from magazines?
And taped model faces to the van walls
It was our renovation, decorations
When you could drive we’d live in here

If I begged you to stay
We could play pretend
Be vagabonds
All we’d need to know is the road
We’d empty out the college textbooks
And use your bag as a boat
Floating forever
On the sea that sank time