"Sister Sun," by Sylvia Vanderburgh

“Sister Sun” considers the consequences of staring the sun in the face. (No children were blinded in the writing of this poem.)

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Mama always warned me:

“Don’t stare at the sun, Jack.”

But Mama never told me

How she’d stare right back.

No, Mama never mentioned

How she’d light me up inside

And warm up all my innards,

And make the darkness hide,

And on my cheeks a smile trace,

And fill my heart with glee –

Just for noticing her face

And letting her see me.