My Little Big Brother Poem by John Koehler

This was an experience I had when bringing my brother a few bucks and some tobacco so, he can make it through a couple of days on the streets of downtown Phoenix. We pulled into a Circle K where he was going to go his way and as he stands outside of the driver side door with his thick coat and backpack over his shoulder he weeps as he says goodbye. I then ask him if he wants to come home with me, my heart was just overwhelmed with sadness.
He then says 'John, I gotta have a drink, I have to drink', as his lips quiver. Then he asks if he can have one drink while he sits in the car with me. I can't say no. He's just looking for a few moments of human contact and a couple of extra minutes off the streets.
He's so grateful that he says he forgets how great it is just to drive around in a car. After all he spends many a day on the Light Rail train and commuting on buses just to find a warm safe place to hunker down for the night.
I then dropp his off at the Light Rail Depot and as he starts to walk off he leans into the driver side window and say's 'Give me a kiss of the cheek and he smiles and says 'You're my BIG, Little Brother, my BIG, Little Brother'.
Making reference that I managed to fight my way out of the trappings of addiction, having been 7 years sober and a wife and 2 children to love.
It's just sooo sad. So, Impossible. So, frustrating.