bruises

i was a little girl playing with my toys one day
and i saw that my brother was going out to play

i asked him if i could go,
but, he quickly told me no.

he was lacing up his sneakers and getting ready to leave
but, "no" was a concept i could not yet conceive

i begged him to let me go again and again
he was very angry with me by then

with hurt feelings i asked him, "Bubba, why can't i come?"
he replied, "Because we're going to do grown-up things and you will have no fun."

i reached for my beloved teddy bear,
and i screamed at him, "I dont care."

angrily he stomped across our living room floor
he didnt even apologize when he slammed my fingers in the front door

as i stood there with fingers turning blue
i whispered to myself, "wow, brother, i love you too."

my mother scooped me up and said, "dont worry about him, honey, he's just getting older.
"I know, Mom... i just miss my big brother.

we've had many fights and we've had truces
but, on that day there were only bruises

i stood at the window and watched him walk away
my feelings were shattered that day

even though you hurt me, and brought me pain
i still love you my brother, all the same.