Brother
Another brother died today.
One more loss for the world.
One more chance
for another person
to see his hopes unfurled.
It was a tragedy too huge.
It caused a trauma too great.
Three brothers dead in three years.
Another million others felt the weight.
They were gone from the Earth's surface.
Their souls each left a mark.
And the tears I cried were not for me.
The tears I cried were dark.
Maybe I'll never understand
the twisted cycle of life.
But I know of its history.
What's more
I know of its strife.
They had all touched our lives
in ways we could never comprehend
Death's mystery became greater
and that of life started over again.
The circle of life continues.
Three born take the brother's place
And once again
the light seeps in
and hope overtakes my face.
I wrote this short poem in high school. Two of my dad's brothers died within months of each other. A couple years later, my dad followed suit.