Four Brothers

Four Brothers

By Cleve

LR,

First born, first bicycle, first to graduate high school

First to reach college, a Razorback he became

Scholarship to play football,

He was good at the game

Later a coach and teacher

Father to a boy and girl

Felled following surgery for cancer

Cigarettes shortened his world

His, another life of denied years

Now but a picture on a shelf, and a memory,

In his brother's home

CL

Second born, lots of hand-me-downs

An athlete and a mind sharp of wit

Scouted for college but chose marriage

And navy blues, he did his military bit

He, too, father to a girl and boy

Living in his hometown with his family

His life claimed when his motorcycle

Crashed by a car, and his life did flee

Ah, another life ended before its time

He, too, a picture on a shelf, and

a memory

In his brother's home

RO

Fourth born, the baby of the four

Early on gave up schooling

He preferred a Gibson guitar instead

And roamed the bayous with his uncle

Seeing what each day would bring

Father of girls two, and two of boys

He stayed near his childhood home

'til one day his body failed him

And a third brother was gone

Yep, another life taken before it should,

Putting another picture and memory

On the shelf of his brother's home

CW

Third born, but luckiest of the four

Two girls and two grand girls

Married to his better half

For more than sixty years

Things are great

But why wouldn't they be

He is the one

Writing the history

Keeping the memories and putting pictures

On the shelf of his home