Mother's Bones

I can see her getting out of the bath
I'm still sitting in it
eight years old and counting
looking up in awe as she dries herself lovingly
I could tell even then
I was in the presence of greatness

She holds in her stomach for the camera
and sticks out her breasts
'fifties style
She's got reason to stand up straight

My dad
he's there too
in the background
with a smirk and a beer
Doesn't he ever notice anything?
Doesn't he see how special she is?
If she wanted
she could step out
leaving him there
kiss me and say
    You're the same darling
    you've got my bones

Not Sisters

Sent to bed early
stretched out in sleeping bags
we would hear the TV downstairs
whispered about pop stars and school teachers
we were not sisters
but touching her had all the thrill
of a broken taboo
holding her down as if fighting
practicing kissing
like pop stars kiss
stepping so easily over that line
as if we'd done it
all our lives

Now when we meet at weddings
we talk of children jobs holidays
but I see her face in family photographs
and perhaps she sees mine
and I know that we were there at the start
before we knew that girls
do not usually go with girls
before these things had names

before shame