A Split in Creation

A few words dedicated to my late brother.

Identical at birth

Paternal we’re meant to be

Supposed to be inseparable

But we are so different you and me

 

You gave in to the dark

I chose to walk in light

You gave up too easy

Not fit enough to fight

 

Dumped into strangers hands

We were only a few days old

Life of abuse and darkness

Hungry, unloved and cold

 

All we had was each other

Although we didn’t click

Who knew you were my brother

We were never told much of it

 

Faceless parents we don’t know

Childhood filled with fear

Orphan’s life is hard

Too much for souls to bare

 

Days, used as a slave

Night, demons lurk about

Life lived in an orphanage

Of course you would act out

 

No, I don’t blame you

For giving up on me

Feeding me to the demon

To set your own soul free

 

I took the brunt of pain

I took the fists and rough

I laid down my life

But it wasn’t enough

 

I saw the seeping scars

weighted heavily upon your soul

Pearls roll down your cheek

I watched the dark unfold

 

Frozen, ice cold winter

No longer sunshine warm

Changed, cold and bitter

Broken and ravaged by the storm

 

I forgave you once

And then a million more

I will always love you

I hope you knew before

 

I pulled you from the wreckage

But you saved me from myself

You are the only bloodline

I have nobody else

 

We wear the same genes

At creation we did split

Pity the split stuck around

But I never gave up nor quit

 

The only family I know

Is now dead and gone

But I will live the legacy

His music will play on

 

I always saw the good

That lay inside of you

Too many words left unsaid

Before a forced adieu

 

I wish I had a moment

To forgive you for your part

My dear brother, I love you

I hate that we’re apart

Your ashes now are scattered 

Joined the calmness of the sea

At peace, not pieces shattered

Finally now, your're free

 

Days are cold and lonely

Without you by my side

I will live on my brother

In my soul, you will reside

 

Now we’re joined together again

Of me, you are a part.

I will always love you

Your name etched into my heart

Author's Note

A 10 minute rant to let out some emotions that arose for me about my twin brother. Me and him were identical, but only in looks. We had a very rough childhood and both reacted in opposite ways. We were starting to reconnect again when he was killed in a car accident. I never got the chance to forgive him properly, I just wanted him to know I love him despite of our pasts and it wasn't his fault.

This was written quite fast as emotions poured onto the page, so it could be a possible edit in future, or a complete write off. Thanks for stopping by :)

Reviews

[Angi]

Cairo, sometimes the most effective poems are the ones that come from the gut. Rhyme, meter and all that go out the door when a writer makes me feel something. I am so sorry about your brother. I am one of those that really believes they can hear us. I am betting he heard you and he knows. Angi~

[DJ]

Thank you so much Angi, your words mean so much to me and bring me comfort, I truly hope he knows... He was a good person that made some bad choices, but very much a reaction from a horrible up-bringing. I hope that he finally has some peace.

[A.Lack.of.Hope]

I'm very sorry about your loss. Family can be very messy, but at the end of the day its the only mess any of us are willing to work on again and again. I'm sure that every time you tried to reconnect he was reminded that you loved him and that you were by his side.

[Distantview123]

A tragic tale, and obviously a deeply personal one. A fine tribute to your late brother. Thank you for sharing this. ~ Robert.

[DJ]

Thank you for your kind comment Robert much appreciated.

[MOON]

Deep write told in a loving way. Life sometimes is stranger then fiction and two people in the same circumstances can react so differently .

[DJ]

You're so right there Moon. It is strange, even though we were identical twins, we reacted completely differently. Thank you for your comment.

[Tom]

A fine noble tribute to the memory of your tragically taken twin brother! The poem was/is as always, easy to read, great rhyme and flow, packed with heartfelt regrets and sadness but countered by the loyalty of brotherly love which shines through with no bitterness shown on your part Cairo, others, may all to easy have been consumed with hate and withdrawal but not you !

A measure of your character and pedigree, I admire you Sir !

[DJ]

Thank you Tom. I really appreciate your kind words and review. I hope he knew that I didn't hold it against him and he's resting peacefully. Thank you my friend, you humble me with your kindness.

[Tom]

Well if he didn't Cairo, I'm sure he realizes now !

[DJ]

Thanks Tom :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

How very bittersweet. There is something so honest about this, and as you mentioned in your author's note, it did feel a bit like an emotional purging, which is sometimes what makes for the most emotionally charged writing. You've told a story, but you have also told your heart. Keep writing and I will keep reading!

[DJ]

Thank you so much Sarah, for your review and kind words. Yes, it was definitely an emotional purging, different from my normal writes, but I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Hana Saemon]

Beautiful n sad... i love this. It's so emotional, straight from the heart. Lesser nouns n more adjectives comparatively to your other poetry. Well penned!

[DJ]

Yup it certainly does have more adjectives than I would normally use. Just trying to spice things up a bit haha. Thank you Hana, glad you enjoyed it my friend.

[Hana Saemon]

I did, in a sad way though

[DJ]

Yeah it's not the happiest of pieces. Loss never creates happiness. Unless you lose your marbles, then you'd be cray cray and most probably happy haha

[Hana Saemon]

Lol lol lol i wont mind losing my marbles then. Forever happy. Lol

[London's Lily]

Cairo, this is so beautiful and heart-wrenching! To have gone through the childhood you had, one would think that a twin brother would be the perfect situation in the sense that you'd both have someone so incredibly close to you, to be there for each other & never be truly alone. It's so sad that everything affected him in a way that he couldn't handle quite as strongly as you. I think this is a lovely tribute, pure and honest words that do not spare the negative, yet emphasize the good. :)

[DJ]

Thank you Lily. Yeah, he was innately good and I always saw a glimmer of that but sadly, the things we went through were just too much for him and he was consumed by the darkness that fell upon our lives. No matter what though I loved him dearly and I miss him everyday. Thank you Lily, for your reading and kind review. I'm glad that you liked it. It is a bit different to my normal writes.