Brother

By Amanda Wray

 

Hello, brother; do you know me?

We are of the same flesh, you and I.

You wouldn't guess it from afar --

That the same blood runs through our veins.

 

I love you, brother; do you know this?

Thinking back, I don't see how you could.

Through the years we've battled

And strained in opposite directions with all our might.

 

You were the older, bigger, stronger.

And I took the brunt of your wrath.

It was all a game to me

Until we made it too real for me to bear.

 

I used to lie awake and wonder, brother

What I had done to make you hate me so.

Now I know that it takes two

To make a rivalry as fierce and strong as ours.

 

I'm sorry I taunted you, brother;

It was my only defense.

For your shadow covered my life

And I was not content to remain in darkness.

 

It didn't have to be that way;

I can see that now

Because somewhere down the road

I stopped hating you and began to love you.

 

Do you know how proud I am, brother,

Of all that you've become

And all that you've accomplished?

I wish I could tell the whole world

 

That you are my brother.