My brother waited, or didn’t wait, until the day that was farthest from my birthday on the calendar year to be born. Ever since then we’ve been perfectly complementary, or perfectly at odds, and rarely has there been a consistently happy median. Over the years, we’ve both retreated from our polar opposite ends and met closer to the middle, while realizing that we are so different we will never be best friends. Once upon a time I mourned that – now I celebrate it as the only way it can be. He’s finding his way toward peace in the best way he knows, and I’m doing the same, and once COVID is done, and better weather is here, we will hopefully have more opportunities to hang out together.
THE ROAD IS LONG
WITH MANY A WINDING TURN
THAT LEADS US TO WHO KNOWS WHERE
WHO KNOWS WHERE
BUT I’M STRONG
STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY HIM
HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER
SO ON WE GO
HIS WELFARE IS OF MY CONCERN
NO BURDEN IS HE TO BEAR
WE’LL GET THERE
It always struck me as unfair to him that his birthday had to fall during the school year, that there were times when he would have to be in class on his special day. Yet that didn’t seem to bother him, and it was all he had ever known. He tended to have a few more people for his birthday celebrations than I did (I preferred to spend my day with Suzie at a distant destination like Beaversprite or something). His birthday parties were louder, more rollicking affairs, that found the group of us stomping on balloons tied to our ankles while a clown named Shrinking Violet led us in games and activities.
These days, as a father of twins about to turn eleven years old, he may wish for something quieter – but maybe he doesn’t. Quiet has never been his brand or his way of life, and on his birthday he deserves whatever form of celebration he wants. We’ll find a way to get together for this one (and Christmas and New Year’s…) one some finer weather, right around the corner. Happy birthday, baby bro!
IF I’M LADEN AT ALL
I’M LADEN WITH SADNESS
THAT EVERYONE’S HEART
ISN’T FILLED WITH THE GLADNESS
OF LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
IT’S A LONG, LONG ROAD
FROM WHICH THERE IS NO RETURN
WHILE WE’RE ON THE WAY TO THERE
WHY NOT SHARE
AND THE LOAD
DOESN’T WEIGH ME DOWN AT ALL
HE AIN’T HEAVY HE’S MY BROTHER
