I wrote this after my brother's death. |
I Remember, Big Brother I remember you when I wrapped my arms around your neck and you swung us down from the tree We both screamed outrageously as we plummeted down to the ground laughing as we fell into the leaves We were far from rich living way out in the country we couldn't afford the luxury of amusement parks So instead you made us one way out in the woods All nine of us took turns The older brothers scaring the younger kids but showing us the time of our lives and doing it as a family All together All nine of us stuck together as we investigated the forest our own amusement park never once did we think of danger our protection walked by our side Our big brother I remember you when you rode me on your bike I sat on the handlebars and you took the corner laying the bike so near the ground scaring me, but making me laugh We were far from rich living in that small town we couldn't afford the luxury of of our own bikes So instead you made us one that we shared and rode together All nine of us took turns riding through the streets the younger kids riding on the handlebars the older boys scaring us And we did it All together We investigated the new town as a large family It became our new amusement park never once did we think of danger our protection walked by our side Our big brother I remember you when you drove your Mustang at a high speed with me sitting in the backseat And Mom in the front seat holding onto the door knob And we laughed because you laughed We were far from rich growing up together and spreading our wings and moving again, but this time out on our own beginning our new lives All nine of us took turns moving away from Mom and Dad the younger kids waited until our turn with you lecturing us Wanting to protect us from the reality of life We investigated our new lives creating our own families Life became our amusement park Never once did we think of danger Our protection was close by our side Our big brother I remember you when you carried you kids around and bragged about how they made you laugh you pretended to be happy refusing to let anyone know the truth behind the laugh We were far from rich but we were raising our kids with more than we had ever known we thought they had it all except they didn't have the you that I had known my whole life All nine of us took turns raising our children as best that we could you worked and worked leaving little time to take care of yourself and refusing to allow your family to know the true pain you felt Like many families who get older we grew further and further apart you didn't reach out to us even though there were nine of us in all Never once did I know of your anguish Until you ended your own pain My big brother |