My brother

This is for my brother who has CP and hydrocephalus by way of background. Unfortunately, I'm burning the midnight oil again but hopefully this one was worth it.

Your body, fragile

yet strong in its way.

Your upper body ripped from all the transfers

--

Your goofy grin gets me giggling

and I go to great lengths to see it.

When we were children

my favorite strategy was telling you a simple joke:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Why?

To poop and pee in his pants!

And you would laugh until you turned blue.

Mom would tell me to let you breathe.

--

Breathing could be hard for you.

Oxygen and nebulizers, old friends.

Your scars from surgeries, a story of survival.

We heaved sighs of relief after each one.

This last time I thought would be the last time.

--

But still you go on--

fragile and strong.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/92g9fk/comment/e35mtd8

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/92av2x/comment/e35la6x