Sun Rises at Dawn

Aunt, godmother, protector
Religion aside 
Birthday
Day before mine

Filled fathers shoes
absent
mothers sister 
replaced 
the presence  

tutored math
tennis against the wall
coach for the softball
I could barely throw

pizza nights and 
patience 
an interest and mission,
what’s the word we use now
connection

breakfast with my kids
painted my walls
soup on the stoop
when the flu hit
us all

birthday cake
candles we blew out together
Virgo babies
and that middle name
mom gave me 
after her sisters first
Dawn

patient 
and kind to us all
you arrive in my dreams
guiding spirits
warm halo
gratitude

“first appearance of light”
so yeah we ride strong