Sibling Riches

When you said, like taffy to my teeth, that you loved me,

I gagged on the saccharine flavour of it.

It clung, though. To my throat, to my bones, my joints...

I could hardly move with the admission.

I used to claim to hate you. Proudly and loudly.

I thought I did. Maybe I simply hated how we transitioned;

from playing with action men to in-action assault.

Fists and vitriol were our way, where our parents were so close to their siblings.

But it has gradually, like trudging through thick sap, grown on us.

It has been uncomfortable. I had to blink away my shock, when you continuously showed up without word for me.

With tentative suggestion of concerts, offering me a ticket soundlessly,

Nodding to the TV to watch a show when our parents head for bed.

As grandparents leave us, and our parents age,

all we have is each other. So we sit in the clinging sap.

We cling to each other, without further worldly affection.

Yet we are as strong as were when we met, you fat in the face,

And I, blinking up at you with a strange recognition.

We share scrunched faces when we do something similar now,

roll our eyes at our differences that lead to bickering.

But I tuck myself away, grinning, comforted that we are fine.

We have each other. And while you enrage me, you will never break my heart.

We have each other, and if thats all we have, I will be rich.