He Is My Brother

He is the CEO of his own company

a respected businessman, a mover, a shaker

Familiar with airports all over the world, 
A problem solver, a forward thinker.

But more than all of that, he is my brother.

Do you remember how we made our own game of chess?

A cardboard carefully lined into equal squares

Horses and castles drawn on pieces of paper we cut

Queens and kings and bishops in black and in white 

He is a consultant to kings and princes,

An expert witness to give congress fright
Magazine covers graced by his handsome face

Evening news reporters in awe of his insight

But more than all of that, he is my brother.

Do you remember how we made a phone?

With paper cups and a piece of string pulled tight

We ran it across from your bed to mine

And what was it that we talked about all night?

He is a writer, a poet renowned

A weaver of words in our mother tongue

He speaks of the land, the mountains and trees

The beauty of his words brings a flow of tears

I read each poem a thousand and one times

and then I read them again to sway with the rhymes

Because you know more than anything, he is my brother.

Do you remember playing in the streets?

Hiding in our rooms, at times happy and at times sad

All that we endured, all that made us strong

Do you remember the good days and the bad?


A global citizen, he comes and he goes
To schools and libraries, he lends a helping hand
He builds up villages and cultivates the land
By just his presence, softens peoples' woes


Why does my heart swell with pride and with love

Because  as you know quite well by now
More than anything,  he is my brother.