Christmas Without My Brother Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Christmas always brought us together as children
to decorate the Christmas tree with gold and glitter,
making a crib and mounting stars to light up the night
everything always seemed so gloriously bright and right;
even as we grew up and had our own kids
the same old affection, the same old unity
transpired in our hearts and houses;
lunch together, a bottle of red wine to cheer
while carols got played so loud and clear
that all could sing along and feel the fervor.
Suddenly our joy this christmas just vanished
our grieving hearts kept silently resisting reality;
though Christmas is here and everywhere;
deep in our minds trebles such an unstopping sadness.
Your absence hurts as Xmas is just beginning;
it was you who would decide what we would do,
it was you who would decide what we would eat,
it was you who would decide how much
we could laugh or sleep thro the Xmas festivity;
you were the one who rang the bells of happiness,
you were our chief, our director of joy.
Today, without you O' brother ''is this Xmas'' we ask,
as incessant tears keep filling up in our eyes;
we cry for not seeing you amidst us
and we know for sure Christmas will never be the same
for us, ever again, without you, O' Brother dearest!