not my baby brother, but a similar-sized baby with one more hair.

—

my brother was born

when i was in my very early elementary years

i was so excited when he was born

he was the newest thing our family after all

i wanted to bring him in to share with my class

during show and tell

i couldn’t believe it when my mom

refused to let me take him on the bus and bring him in

telling me i had to bring a picture of him instead

i was furious

i couldn’t believe it

she was so mean

the nerve of her

i ended up showing his picture

told stories about how he cried and was loud and smelled but was cute

and years later

when i had my own children

i kind of got it.

—

“maybe there’s room for both, telling as well as showing. it’s something to think about.”
― a.d. aliwat

returning.

(a repost)

with

one sister visiting

one sister gone too soon

only brother on his way

grandchildren in tow

we visited the place

where we had grown up.

it looked much the same

yet felt somehow not.

much like us.

—

“there is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged

to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

-nelson mandela

I didn't have my glasses on….