Brothers

There is no calculus that explains brothers
the bonds
the unqualified love
the smiles
the sighs of reminiscence
cannot be measured

the laughter over a beer
or the serious conversation
or tears on taking hard news
or shared memories
cannot be found by science

you cannot hold it in your hand
you cannot let it go
like the bird you rescued last week
you cannot find it in a book
and look up its page number

yet while undefined
it remains
shared pain
loving laughter
a hug
I love you spoken
in the last second of a phone call
there is no calculus that explains brothers