Work Text:
What a fine boy
My summer-born brother
Might grow to be!
Just hope that he,
The younger sibling
Won’t take after me,
A sister whose childish jealousies
Festered shamefully
The lonely night he arrived
It was a small apartment with five
But soon it’ll be six
It was the birthday of one
But soon it’ll be two
I was still a kid back then
Emotions ran shallow—like water in creeks—
In capricious crystal stripes
Shining like eight birthday candles atop a cake
For eight years I’d been the sun…
But the sun is still
Just one star amongst so many…
Soon it’ll be a constellation
Gran and Gramps were with me
Mom and Dad are with the baby
My birthday was now a half-vacant theater
Whose other half had left me
For a more spectacular show
Flickering flames atop the candled cake
Lit up two faces too few
But the three here were all smiling
Jealousy is corrosive
Loneliness is frightening
But anticipation was exciting!
I drew a cyclone’s breath
And wondered about my wish
Thoughts raced each other
Like raindrops rush to Earth
It was never wished; I just wanted cake
But I did get a present
And he’s the best one, by far
In the days that would come
I’d meet him in awe
Though I was a footnote for a while
In the months that would come
I’d hold him gently
He was so small and fragile
In the years that would come
I’ll want to teach him well
But family can be tiring
So sometimes I have to yell
Whatever. Sibling rivalry is old news
But I knew he’s made me someone new
I hope he can look up to me
For what a fine boy
My summer-born brother
Will grow up to be!