Star Wars

Once,
I sat in a theater
Waiting for the lights to dim
With my little blonde-haired brother – the one
Who always called me “Pardner.”

“Jango Fett,” he corrected,
his little eyes rolling,
when I said “Boba” by mistake.

Mom instructed me to take off his glasses
During the scary parts.
I covered his eyes­, but years later
He confessed that he peeked through.

Now,
I sit on my couch
With a little blonde-haired boy
Watching the same film.
He always calls me “Mom.”

I skip through the scary parts for him,
Without being asked.

This story is familiar and different
Each time around.
The roles of the characters change
With each episode.

My little boy
And his now-grown uncle,
Duel with their new and once-new light sabers.

This is not just my cycle to continue,
But theirs.