Monday, June 12
LETTER TO MY OLDER SISTER she died before christening and, therefore had no name, but i will gladly lend her one of mine dear Georgiana, Mama followed the stars in those days. do you suppose she blames me for your death? and, too, Papa's mother died on my horizon. have your lives been absorbed into mine and have i lived you well? is that what she holds against me---your eternal breathlessness? would she have loved me more if you had lived? and if not more, than at least without fear? Papa accepted me as his altho too much his in my stubbornness. if your death hurt him it must've been the lesser hurt. as i've observed of men, the adage seems true. had you lived, perhaps you would have done better in fulfilling your duties to mother. you would have taken care of her affairs better. you would have married within the race. you would've made her proud without reservations. you would've had her breasts and good hair. forgive the brevity of this letter, but i am demanded elsewhere. i'll write again later, hoping we'll have more to share. please think my questions over carefully before you answer. and if you can't be kind, please, be fair. yours, (Wanda Coleman)