The Sister

by Kathleen MacGregor What I love about family gatherings, is being a sister to my brothers. We play games and laugh and I can see how we’re alike. I see the shadow of me in them and can love my shape. I can hear the echo of my voice in their voices and can love my voice. I love to feel that connection and I can feel it even though we’re playing a card game or tossing a salad. Divided. Part of me is...read more

Thanksgiving

by Kathleen MacGregor On Thanksgiving, when we all come together, gathering up our stories and our stances in our arms, like crops from the field; When we come bearing insistent separateness, proud individuality, spilling our armloads clumsily all over each other, because we have come with more than we can carry, there is a grief. The grief pours down from the middle of us and pools on the ground at our feet. We...read more

Easier

by Kathleen MacGregor Something’s bothering me. In the dim, cold bathroom this morning, I stubbed my toes as I was rushing between getting dressed and a time that hasn’t happened yet. A time later in the day, the week, the month. Almost immediately, holding my foot, and offering my breath to the pain, to say sorry, I took it as a reminder to come present. Aloud I said, “Thank you. Thank...read more

Peaches

It’s later, now. After the peaches and the pie crust and after Dad said he has lymph cancer. It’s after spending 3 hours today blanching, peeling, slicing and spicing peaches I bought on Tuesday and placed in the brown paper bag, on the Mexican tile floor. Beneath the side board they rested into themselves for four days. Until their scent dripped thickly from the air and sweetened us with sunset...read more

Hole Self

Out on the edge of things- edge of comfort, politeness, legality, acceptability, of “what we do”, there aren’t a lot of arms holding you. There aren’t a lot of voices reassuring you. Because you’re somewhere no one’s ever been. You don’t know. And you know you don’t know. You are leaning, balancing over the edge toes tingling, gripping. Hoping to feel some security about the place that’s here. The...read more