I Grew Up with A Brother

For my brother

I grew up with a brother
that had Stephen for his name
A year plus some between us,
more apart were we than same.

We had no friends in common
few interests did we share
We mixed as oil to water
and became the strangest pair

As teens we both found trouble
but each in separate ways
Troubles that would haunt us both
upon the life-trails we'd blaze

The distance grew between us
as the days then years went by
And neither seemed to notice
until Daddy's time to die

Yes, we both loved our father
as only a child can do
We shared this point in common
on the day tears formed like dew

We put the past behind us
to be brothers on that day
found we're less different
than before we'd dare to say

It took Dad's loss to shake us
right down to our very core
To see the time we wasted
being petty and keeping score

A year plus some then later
again the family cried
This time we lost my brother
laid to rest by Daddy's side

If life were based on fairness
this ending just could not be
I'd have time with my brother
long before his soul was free

Please learn this from my story
not to be the one so proud
letting time then slip away
as little time we're allowed

Make the most of life's moments
forgiving the things you must
'Tis how I found my brother
a true friend that I could trust

Reviews

[Liza]

thank you for your honesty; sibling rivalry is something I am familiar with; I've explored this dynamic and it comes from competition to win over the love and attention of the parents we share; my sister and I are 7 years apart; we are like night and day - we love each other but the conflict between us simmers as a heavy and uncomfortable silence but because i love her so much; i kept my mouth shut when she tries to change me; then i discovered later upon much reflection that she took on the role of being my second mother; since she is the oldest; her identity was connected to guiding me and being the baby who got away with more because i learned through her mistakes and found loopholes to gain my mothers love by fighting my mom tooth and nail when she compared me to my sister because my sister was easier for her to raise; well expectedly so - my sister had more attention the first 7 years of her life; then she had to share my mother....thankfully now that she is a mother of 3 boys; she sees the dynamic play out in her own family and is more aware...of the sister she can be.

[DRIVEN]

Advice we all need to take. I just read this after your review and you brought tears to my eyes remembering my own brother and the opptys we might have had to get to know one another. This is a great write.


"Make the most of life's moments
forgiving the things you must"

[alternative_be]

Very striking indeed that we sometimes seem to have almost the need of losing someone in order to come closer to our relatives or friends. Therefore you are right: we need to set our differences aside before it is too late to resolve issues.
Like Danny said, I am glad you and your brother became friends, so you had the chance to renew your bond! We should sherish every moment that we have in life before it is too late. Therefore my motto is 'Carpe Diem'
I am really sorry for your loss! But then again I suppose your loss would have been greater if you had not had the chance to reconcile things with your brother.
Other than that, I really like the way you wrote this poem, it is well composed and has a natural flow.

[Dani California]

Michael,

this is heartbreaking,
and I am truly sorry for your loss.
I too lost my father and a sibling,
so I understand. Your poem evoked
tears, because you are so
right about wasting time angry,
not speaking.. petty things that
really don't matter. All that matters
is the love, everything else is just
part of this earthly experience,
and unimportant in the big picture.

I am so glad you and your brother
became friends...

Thank you for sharing this with us
and reminding everyone how
precious life and loved ones truly
are.... don't take for granted that
they'll always be there.

Tell the people you love
that you love them....

often.

God bless you Michael. Thank you.