To A Younger Brother Poem by RIC BASTASA

it does not matter if you shout at me
or even plan to kill me
it does not matter if you leave me
or take all that i have
it does not matter matter if you lose
whatever you take from me

if you come back i will still be here
waiting for you
to give you what you need
to heal what is broken within you
to cheer you up
to let you stand up again
and be a man yourself

for i have given my word to Mama
for i will not lie before Papa's grave
for i am your older brother
and i was born to take care of you
my younger brother