This poem was inspired by memories of my brother who passed away this weekend and by his song Out for a Walk. (I did borrow one memory from another brother.)
Out for a Walk
My brother is out for a walk
He won’t be coming home
Miles and years separated us
But we’re never far apart
I never knew him as well as I should
Brothers can be that way
–
Today I listened to his music
He’s not writing any more
I’ll still listen and hear
More than I ever had
He hardly ever played for us to hear
Brothers can be that way
–
Answers he always had forthcoming
Now he knows so much more
I’d like to hear one more answer
And hear others rebut
Another answer I’m sure I’d shrug off
Brothers can be that way
–
I keep seeing him spinning me
Around and around by my ankles
Makes me happy and sad
Because he’ll always be
He’ll always be that kid I knew, that adult quietly distant
Brothers can be that way
–
We had a brush with death
A parent brought us together
Unknowingly our last chance to bond
Physically, those bonds he limited to handshakes
A hug was preferred, should have forced it
Brothers can be that way
–
My brother is out for a walk
He’s not coming home
A family is now just two, a wife and a son
But never alone
His family is my family, always has been, always will
Brothers can be that way
–
My brother is out for a walk
He’s not coming home
Brothers can be that way
At the celebration of his life, I read this poem and added this bit for the moment:
My brother is out for a walk
Inspiring this unfinished poem
Leading the way on this voyage
He has taught me much
Will I learn, will I heed these lessons, will we
Brothers can be that way
And to be completely fair
Sisters and parents
We all can be that way