Little Brother Poem by Emma Atkinson

You are ridiculous,
Insane sometimes.
All the time.
I don't know why I bother,
Except, perhaps, well,
Because your my brother,
As far as I can tell...
Your not the one I chose, of course.
You were put here by some inexplicable force,
But I can't exactly send you back,
(You see, I've greatly pondered the fact,
And alas it cannot be done) .
So, I suppose,
Just as the saying goes,
We'll have have to get along.

It's lucky that I'm older-
That knowledge makes me bolder-
Because, guess what, Little Brother?
I am practically your mother,
So you are supposed to listen to me,
Don't you see?
Except you don't,
Or won't,
But never mind-
You were never the obedient kind,
And the more I try to make you listen, the more I find,
That that will never happen.

Let's play then-
No, not Indians again!
Cards are fun,
Coloring, anyone?
Nope-think I think I'd better run-
Don't chase me with that gun!
And now you've found a fish, some worms,
Anything that squirms,
And put in my face.
Can one run away screaming with grace?
I think not.

I like flowers and books and music,
And you gag whenever I use it.
I like peace, harmony, silence
But you wage war with such great violence,
You are the incarnation of noise,
What is it with you boys?
Can't you appreciate some culture?
How will I ever endure this torture?
But I guess I have no choice,
I'll have to put up with your voice,
As you ask a million questions,
While ignoring all my suggestions,
But I guess it'll have to be fine.

But sometimes, you know,
You're not so bad, at least I don't think so-
In fact, you can be sort of good,
I'd tell this to your face, I would,
Sometime when I get a chance,
And your not charging after me with a lance.
But I'd like for youth read it,
Because, honestly, you need it.
You need to know
Even so,
I think your absolutely hilarious,
I find your company gregarious,
Though I doubt you know what that means,
But you leave me laughing so hard, I am bursting at the seams.
Your funny,
Even though you steal my money,
And even though you make no sense,
You make me drop all my defense,
To roll on the floor and laugh with you,
That Little Brother, is undeniably true.

Though I may find a way to send you back someday,
I don't think I would,
Or, really, ever could,
Because you see,
Though you kick me in the knee,
I love you for it-
There's no way I can ignore it.
I love you grudgingly so,
And I think deep down you know,
Maybe that's why you tease me, poke and prod me,
Because, maybe, your fond of me.
It's a funny way to show it,
But I know it,
So even though,
I often don't know,
How or why it is I put up with you,
(Somehow, I always do) ,
Except, perhaps, well,
Because your my brother,
I would never wish for any other,
And that,
Little Brother,
Is a fact.