Little Consequence

Because the pear tree she loved 

was felled in her absence, 

my sister hides the axe 

from her sons. They say families 

are complex systems. 

Because my sister has hens 

I have eggs. They say families 

have pockets full of old wars 

and new ones lie in wait. 

My sister swims in the Cherwell 

all summer. She tries 

to keep her face out of the sun. 

I waited a year for my sister 

to come. She’s tanned, 

with little consequence of war. 

Vanessa Lampert