Last Photo of Brother

Last Photo of Brother

Hot sun

burning holes in the

dusty air

my father's hand

brown, big veined

holding the bit

in Blacky's mouth

Grandad's eyes

are shaded

while the sun burns

the white dress-shirt

he wears only

for pictures

And brother his

new hat long

pants

leather shoes

more boyish

because of the clothes

because he is seventeen

and trying to fit

into a man's hat my

father's hat

a parting gift

I was still sitting

on Old Blacky

in the photo on the mantle

when the letter came

I'll be sitting

on Old Blacky

and my toes will never

reach the ground as

the sun burns

to brown

even the white

of Grandad's shirt

brown

as my father's hands

holding me steady

brown and bareheaded

as Father

nothing to shade

my eyes