Brotherly Love

Some say there is nothing better
than the love one brother has for the other
someone to help with a day’s work
to cheer you up with a weekend game
to be a good uncle to your kids.

However ideal that image might be
life reflects a different reality
like Cain and Abel in the days of old
or Joseph and his brothers long ago
killed or sold their brother into slavery
betrayed at the very core.

Animals compete at this level
hording all the food,
getting the best spot in the sun
they may comfort each other in a pack

but vying for the father’s love
each one tries to catch the master’s eye
to be the one who gets rubbed behind the ears.

Literature would have us believe
the ideal is attainable
but the newspaper headlines
tell the truth
brotherly love is only a myth

one perpetuated by poets and parents
hoping to quell the noise
of two brothers
fighting over their toys.