I had a brother once
who tried in deep woods
not to walk on water.

He failed and proved
that love just makes
the heart go breaker.

Unsteady over spring sluiced river
in his new brown boots, tied tight,
then their knuckles failed to hold.

Mother never did get over it.
35 years later, as she died
she said his name, as she daily did.

A neighbor standing by
said he’s coming now! She
cleared a dying eye and said

Oh, Shut up! That was all. She died
and went to join him in the dirt.
I breathe them both through all these years.

Will Kirkland
Nov 2010