Scissors and Paper and...

This one was inspired by something that my dad said to my younger brother.

Hear that?

You're the glue.

The first in a chain of vicissitudes

that has us all linked

on our most basic levels

of consciousness.

Twelve years

spent reenacting the Nutcracker ballet,

playing glitchy video games,

and pruning musical talents

as we did the baby oak

in the front yard.

Watching you learn to be true

and never ashamed

of anything that makes you happy.

Pinky swearing

over the cheerful din of a Sims menu

that we'd never throw each other

out of the house.

And even when the dust and ash

of caffeinated explosions settle,

we're all construction paper hearts,

and you're the ever-present

bottle of Elmer's.