I watched in an adolescent satisfaction
we were both eleven
she traced the alphabet in her foggiest precipitation
as we drove back home...

Later I found out, once we could communicate,
she thought our motor home was our only locate
So many eyes stared at her face
Her eyes were so different, of Asian race...

She spoke little in English
I knew nothing of Korean
Mom put us together,
our shared bedroom being...

That very first night, we stayed up so late
making animal noises, from pictures off pate
Our laugh, our smiles, all facile expressions
It was all we needed, in bonding,
our sister sensations!

I taught her the bad words first
so did she...me
Why is it these words
always grab a child’s intrigue?

She was an artist, a math wizard too!
I was a writer, even back then,
teaching her the simplest,
funniest words that I penned...

Mom named her Patricia,
although, she only knew HaeYung,
My name is Kim, and all thought it was funny
"Shouldn’t it be the other way around?",
Dad asked Mommy

School was very hard for her at first
but within only months, she surpassed us with thirst
A exemplearary student,
from me being the worst...

I went on...my wayward times
She stayed behind, hoping I’d find
whatever I was looking for
but I didn’t, and returned...

Shortly after,  she went off to college
I missed her smile, but I knew her knowledge
must be taking the tests
And then finally she came back
Dr. Patricia Van Kooten, D.M.D. , the dentist!

Now we are grown, married mothers we are...
I live here and she lives so far
I think back on the short time we shared
Thanking the Lord, the opportunities, paired 

I am so proud of my sister, you see
God knew what he was doing
when He gave her to me
and I to her...and I miss her too!

Thank You Lord, for my sister...
Patricia

Copyright 2006
Kimmy Van Kooten