only

I killed my little brother
that's what being an "only child" means

we used to go to the park
and kick the ball around

I could always kick harder
don't really remember how he kicked

don't matter

little brother
wake up and run with me

I got some new shoes today
momma found 'em for cheap

fit real good here
don't they look nice?

why aren't you keeping up?
we gotta go far into those woods

those branches hang low
look out, ya hear

and the deeper, deeper we go
the more the wind sounds angry

like a tea kettle set ablaze
splashing boiling water in the kitchen

the wind liable to knock you down
little brother, walk faster

the sun don't feel hot here
trees keep the light off

that breeze blows everything away

I've heard train whistles before
up close and loud like from a stadium speaker

it makes you jump a little
and want to cover your ears

but really it just scatters your heart
makes your skin wriggle

the power plant up river is so ugly
with those big black plumes

so we don't go there anymore
little brother and me

I found him another trail
on the other side the river

we walk on both sides
skipping rocks back and forth

listening to the wind
blowing that black smoke around

and sometimes
it would seem like we'd been walking forever

but then I'd turn around and get home
and the air would clear

the breeze would die down
like a gentle ripple in a pond

momma would open the door for me
and I'd swear little brother was just behind

so I wouldn't even look
as the door shut behind me

that's what I mean
being an only child

little brother is around somewhere
I just killed him some place

he'll be around later
if he can get the door open

but I ain't opening it for him