MY TOUGH BROTHER



My big brother,

The tough soldier,

Your gift to me

Is life.



Even your strength

Was not enough

To help me,

Save by your own death.



I owe you my life

For a second chance;

And my love

For your sacrifice.

We never spoke of love

But your acts showed it.

You were always there for us

Your family.



The tough wise guy,

You are no more,

But your spirit lives on

In your still beating heart.



The same heart that beats

In my breast;

The heart you gave me

So I could live on.



Your tough guy act,

Forever the soldier,

May have fooled us all,

But it belied the truth.



You loved us all

More than we knew.

I'll miss you forever

My big brother.