Wednesday, March 18, 2009

My Older Brother

Shane

Nobody asked you to do it
Feeding me peanut butter and cornflakes
Through the crib rails
Before mom got up-

Sharing luke-warm fruit cocktail
Out of the can.
Sticky, syrup
Dripping from our hands
Saving the cherry till the end-

Defending my honor
Against a giant named Billy
Ruining your white Converse
You’d bought with paper-route money.
Splashed muddy brown.

Giving me a white cross necklace
Decorated with pink roses
Was even sweeter than
Strawberry Shortcake’s hair,
And my favorite present on
My 7th birthday.

Hugging me
With warm arms
That bent like Silly Putty

Sitting quietly
Talking,
About nothing

That was
Everything.

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