Abstract
In sisters, the poet reflects on a moment of quiet observation: a heron lifting into the sky—and considers the significance of its presence and departure. The poem unfolds in a contemplative rhythm, moving from the external image of the heron to an internal grounding as the speaker presses their palms to the earth. This connection to the earth introduces the idea of kinship: between bird, mushroom, and poet. Each being is defined by movement and creation—flight, growth, and words—and all leave traces of their existence in unique ways. Written in free verse, the poem is composed of five unrhymed stanzas with a soft, reflective tone. The organic flow mirrors the poem’s theme of interconnectedness. The final line—“a faint legacy left in matter, / in nests, in unread words”—offers a meditation on the nature of legacy.
Recommended Citation
Dewey, Hannah
(2026)
"sisters,"
The Cicadian: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
Available at:
https://commons.und.edu/cicadian/vol1/iss2/7