We grin & grimace drop candle wax onto our fingertips
as the storm rattles our window pane
angry that we won’t let it in.
All night it rages
toppling chimney pots with a crash
smashing slates it strips from rooftops
as we safe giggle & peel off
our waxen fingerprints
hold them (tiny whirlpools) in our palms
those whorls of self
unique to each.
I wearing my sister’s fingerprints
she... wearing mine.
*******
SKIN & BLISTER is Cockney rhyming slang for sister. We were so close we could have worn each other fingerprints and as a little boy I was delighted to do so. I was her and me was she. This I guess is something we did to amuse ourselves before...telly arrived.