My Brother

I tried to call you  

You did not answer 

I needed to tell you 

A great loss had occurred 

Last we talked 

You told me you were stricken 

I felt a hammer blow 

With salted eyes we said 

I love you 

Powerful words rarely spoken 

Between grown men/brothers 

I tried to call you 

A great loss had occurred 

I needed your voice 

Your guidance 

Your oneness with me 

Our unbroken bond 

I tried to call you  

My loss was so great 

I had to tell you 

My body armor was cracked 

Part of my being was leaking out 

You would understand 

You would help me 

I tried to call you 

You did not answer 

You could not answer 

Because my loss 

Was you 

(Editor’s Note: The poem was written by Julian Terry in memory of his brother, Harlan who passed away from pancreatic cancer.)