Little brother tells me, “Have no fears.
Fathers are supposed to draw tears.
Don’t change the person you are
just to reach his shining star.”
Pretend to be an alligator for a whole day.
How else can you see things their way?
Imagine yourself wonderful and wise
and you’ll be the one who laughs, not cries.
Your smile looks better on you anyway,
and troubles can wait til another day.

He says, “When that poem is done,
name it after my shoelace Sheldon.
As my sister, you should commemorate
that Sheldon broke on this date.
Or simply call it Ira and James.
Make them wonder about the names.”

Bits of lettuce on the living room floor –
“We won’t play hockey with it anymore.”
Point the elusive fire extinguisher spout
just for a look at the stuff that comes out.
Mama screams that he can’t be left alone
ever again in what is left of our home.