The Pleasures of Her Text
by Alice Bach

Chapter 1: Did Jesus Have a Baby Sister? By Dory Previn

Dory Previn is a lyricist, novelist, composer, and performer. She is the author of two autobiographical works Midnight Baby and Bog-Trotter, and several musical plays, among them Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign. One hears in her songs and her books a woman’s voice, sometimes brave, sometimes scared to be alone, always exploring — from the star-stained heights to the depths where the iguanas live. She is currently at work on a volume of short stories.

did jesus have a baby sister?

was she bitter?

was she sweet?

did she wind up in a convent?

did she end up on the street?

on the run?

on the stage?

did she dance?

did he have a sister?

a little baby sister?

did jesus have a sister?

did they give her a chance?

did he have a baby sister?

could she speak out by and large?

or was she told by mother mary

ask your brother he’s in charge

he’s the whipped cream

on the cake

did he have a sister?

a little baby sister?

did jesus have a sister?

did they give her a break?

her brother’s

birth announcement

was pretty big

pretty big

i guess

while she got precious

little notice in the local press

her mother was the virgin

when she carried him

carried him

therein

if the little girl came later

then

was she conceived in sin?

and in sorrow?

and in shame?

did jesus have a sister?

what was her name?

did she long to be the savior

saving everyone

she met?

and in private to her mirror

did she whisper

saviorette?

saviorwoman?

saviorperson?

save your breath!

did he have a sister?

a little baby sister?

did jesus have a sister?

was she there at his death?

and did she cry for mary’s comfort

as she watched him

on the cross?

and was mary too despairing

ask your brother

he’s the boss

he’s the chief

he’s the man

he’s the show

did he have a sister?

a little baby sister?

did jesus have a sister?

doesn’t anyone know?