Surroundings

Afghan

A striped afghan

covers my living room chair,

pinks, browns, and yellows.

I remember when

my sister crocheted it.

Shortly after, she at 22, I at 19

settled in Lincoln, Nebraska,

a thousand miles away from home.

Years later, I told her I wanted

 her to will me her afghan

since it reminded me

of that phase of life.

The next Christmas

I received the afghan in a box,

along with a note,

“I plan to live longer than you.”

Thanks a lot, Sis.