Brotherly Love
He comes
with his vast universe of need
in a rusted van
leaking oil, spewing exhaust
his hair and beard sprouted,
grown, and gone to seed
I ache with caring
gape with pity
while he’s still safely distant
and yearn to open all I have
all I am
to him
my brother
Then I hear that engine
coughing, missing
stopping
in front of my house
my space
and my heart snaps shut
shrivels and withdraws
He wants all that I can give
I offer him a slice of cake
a glass of milk
and pray that will suffice
The guarded hug
grows genuine
once I know he’s on his way
“Don’t leave so soon,” I say
but I hover near the door
listen for the sputter and start of the
blue van engine
and breathe again when he is gone.
Erin Brannigan was born and raised in the western United States. After her mission, she married her high school sweetheart and finished up her degree at BYU. Erin currently lives in Utah with her husband, growing family, and three cats all named “Hey You.” In her spare time, she loves to play with words, her kids, and bubble wrap.
