Little Buggers
Author: Bill Roberts
– for Jimmy
My kid brother rarely started our fights,
I admit; he just happened to be withing range
when I chose to land the first punch.
I should give the little bugger credit:
he persisted in hanging around unwanted,
kept his oft-bloodied nose up near my face
even when I made it painfully plain
that he should get lost, grow up, go get his
own friends, other little buggers like him.
One day, I’m almost too ashamed to admit,
he’d grown to such an extent, I guess while
I wasn’t looking, that he figured out
it was smarter to get in the first punch,
gave me a bloody nose without reason,
went off, get lost, and found himself
some friends, thereafter making it
quite painfully plain to me that even
little brothers can be human, at times.
Note: This is a tip of the hat to my brother Jim who not only grew up but went past me with the speed of light into the world, became quite successful and a wonderful family man. I’m almost too ashamed to admit: he’s very human and quite a wonderful person.
