my brother's keeper
my brother’s keeper
when i abandoned my brother all those many years ago
i did so thoughtlessly not knowing that it had been done
in a gradual loss of communication a slow loss of contact
hours days months and years passed living in memories
until one day my brother died the great distance ended
to become a confusion of what ifs and might have beens
and who were those tears wept for my brother or for me
regrets piled until the sky was hidden as guilt multiplied
all time spiraled down into individual moments held onto
acceptance and rejection melded became a single refrain
what was my duty and how had i failed this sacred trust
was i my brother’s keeper how large was my responsibility
i age but the past remains young haunted yet all too aware
a dying body and mind have taken over a sight now faded