Finding My Home in Poetry

Take a breath. Hold it. Let it go.

Paula Meehan wrote that poem, which was included in the Three Irish Poets collection we focused on during our time in Galway.  One day, we were assigned a five minute presentation on a poem of our choosing.  My group/apartment chose the aforementioned poem as the focus of our presentation.  I actually enjoyed this poem for both personal and artistic reasons.  In this poem, Paula is recalling a moment, just a moment, when she as the protective older sister watcher her sister literally fall and pick herself back up.  The tone of her voice is so beautifully caring that it is easy to  imagine the maternal love she holds for her younger sister.

My sister and I have a similar bond, which probably explains why I thought the poem was so heartfelt.  My sister Francesca is taller than me, tanner than me and thinner than me.  We are five years apart.  We share a room and after 15 years, I'm still not responsible enough to stop the spread of my mess.  Despite all this we are best friends and she still remains the most helpful/understanding roommate I've ever had.  She always calls to check on me and the excitement she radiates when I come home gives me such a sense of familial warmth that I hate leaving her every time.  Despite our incredible relationship, I still slip into maternal nagging from time to time:  Francesca, you look like an 80's hooker - take that eyeliner off; Francesca, get off facebook and do your homework; Francesca, you can not have a lollipop and peanut butter for dinner.  I sometimes can't help the sharp criticism that escapes my mouth when I see her doing something tragically wrong with her life.  I don't mean to be condescending, but when I see this little girl, my responsibility, my sister, doing something that will hurt her, it's a struggle to let her make the mistake.  I always feel like it's my job to protect her, the same sentiment Paula echoed in each stanza of the poem.  I've already made her mistakes - why can't she learn from me?

The poem illustrated a universal love, as I knew exactly what Paula was struggling with in the poem - despite being born decades and miles apart.  The poem was lyrical and enlightening, above all showing me that I need to let Francesca find her own balance.