my brother and the others

Too delicate, too simple, too water. To have me for a sister.

Smaller and lighter, he had only what I gave him. Did not know his talents. Followed my seeds. I remember the state of his screaming, the helpless behavior, the later attacks. His eyes at thirteen when I saw the infant light fade. They went inward and were drowned.

The sun, the sun, the son went down. Of the daughter they were most proud. She ran and would not intercept him. His affection looked the other way.

The stupider women would love him. His sister stood and fought and shone, and no one could control her. He did not inherit that fervor.

He made friends and indictments and children. I forgave him his savagery and faded in favor. But he was lost in my shadow. My brother and the others who came after him.