Big sister and little brother were
on their own when the army invaded
first hid out in grandfather’s barber shop
until they had to go find food
now their names and photographs
are details in a history book.
Dark mother and silent father
try not to dewell on those days
but they come back in unexpected noises
the nightmare morning they were loaded
like animals into the army lorries
without big sister and little brother.
These days wary and watchful
you never know about your neighbors
never know about the authorities
they keep a shotgun by the front door
and a handgun by the bed and call them
the Big Sister and the Little Brother.
mrsorenson's verses 