Writing Shotgun [poetry]

things my brother does not say to me

he told me people said
he looked just like mom
"it was cute when i was a kid"
(but not anymore)

he tells me dad said
he'd be gone for a while
"we'll need to take care of ourselves"
(he'll need to take care of me)

i once heard dad say
when i was in bed not asleep
"you don't look as you should, boy"
(eyelashes too long, too pretty)

and i keep my eyes closed
don't hear the mumbled response
and think it's really dad's own fault
(how he became the mother of me)