whether you have siblings or are an only child

When I came across the poem below by Billy Collins, it made me more grateful than I already am (if that is possible), to have 2 sisters and a brother.  Below, in all our glory, lined up on the couch at our house in Spain on June 10th 1966. Bangs freshly trimmed by Angie.  Dottie with perfect hair showing why mom permed our ends, me missing 2 front teeth, Mary Ann looking extremely serious, Ray in suit and tie.

Whether you have siblings or are an only child, you will enjoy the poem.  I feel certain.  

Only Child
by Billy Collins

I never wished for a sibling, boy or girl.
Center of the universe,
I had the back of my parents' car
all to myself. I could look out one window
then slide over to the other window
without any quibbling over territorial rights,
and whenever I played a game
on the floor of my bedroom, it was always my turn.

Not until my parents entered their 90s
did I long for a sister, a nurse I named Mary,
who worked in a hospital
five minutes away from their house
and who would drop everything,
even a thermometer, whenever I called.
“Be there in a jiff” and “On my way!”
were two of her favorite expressions, and mine.

And now that the parents are dead,
I wish I could meet Mary for coffee
every now and then at that Italian place
with the blue awning where we would sit
and reminisce, even on rainy days.
I would gaze into her green eyes
and see my parents, my mother looking out
of Mary's right eye and my father staring out of her left,

which would remind me of what an odd duck
I was as a child, a little prince and a loner,
who would break off from his gang of friends
on a Saturday and find a hedge to hide behind.
And I would tell Mary about all that, too,
and never embarrass her by asking about
her nonexistence, and maybe we
would have another espresso and a pastry
and I would always pay the bill and walk her home.
 

Comments

[Chris oliveira]

I am an only, and i love it. But i was younger than that when i began wishing for a sibling. Not when i was small, though. I loved being the center of attention! And i did have cousins who filled in some of the edges...

[Maureen]

Like so many of his poems, he touches just the right note doesn't he. One of my favorites (and probably one of his most popular) is The Lanyard. I'm sure you know it. I am the oldest of seven---six girls and one boy. I don't remember ever wanting to be an only, though when I was about 14 I did seriously think about joining a cloistered order of Carmelites---just for the peace and quiet I think. As an adult I always needed some alone time, though with five children that usually didn't happen until late at night when they were all in bed. Carol, thank you for sharing this poem and thank you for sharing your life with us in your blog.

[Chrissy]

Billy often strikes a melancholy note (the Irish in him, I suppose) but he's never sorry for himself really. I love his poems. The first one I ever read was In the Country and I was a fan forever.
As for you four little beauties, you are an example to the world of the tender, jokey, close relationship we'd all like to have. The poem's a clever one - my son was the same until he got his three step-siblings. That's when the fun began. I say fun advisedly!

[carol]

Chrissy and Maureen - thanks for pointing out your favorites of Billy Collins. I had to go and read them both again. What a talent he is.
Carol