This is a poem my dear sister wrote for me. I love that she thought I had so much energy!

Sanibel Island, 2005

by Milly Kapilow

All hail my awesome sister Rhoada

Build for her a sacred pagoda

She flourishes in this tropical setting

This awestruck poem thus begetting.

Up at dawn before the sun

Already two laundries she has done

Before the clock has chimed at eight

The beach is walked at rapid gait

And though her guest is yet abed

The New York Times is bought and read.

 

By nine the bike is back on rack

Exhausted by her tireless track

Now she’s home to snatch brief rest

While cleaning house and feeding guest.

Next on to sand and comfy chair

To read two books in open air

A spot lunch and on to pool

A mere fifty laps her daily rule.

 

At sunset to library speeding

She needs four books for next day’s reading

She rounds the day by dishing up

Dinner for her guest to sup

Who must obey her sternest wishes

By letting Rho do all the dishes.

 

So goes the day, her vim unfazed

This guest can only watch amazed

Each day an ode to Rho in action

One hour of which puts guest in traction.

 

Two weeks of this without cessation

She pronounces “Perfect Vacation!”

Her thoughts now turn to oh-oh-six

What to do next year to get her kicks.

 

Mt. Everest?  The Amazon?  In wilds canoe?

Who knows what else the kid will do

An Arctic jaunt?  A trek Down Under?

Maybe ALL!  Salute this ageless wonder!

A tribute to my sister, Milly, is Chapter 12 in my book The Myth of the Yellow Kitchen, titled “Memories and Memorabilia.”