Raisins

Where are you today?

Raisins cupped in my palm.

*

How quickly you became

Half-memory, not so sour.

*

No, I can’t be erased from hospital

Waiting rooms with wheelchairs,

*

Raisinettes, the other edge of hope.

I pop the sun-dried fruit into my mouth.

*

Someone in the background cheers on my

Simon and Garfunkel record, live in Central Park.

*

It's too easy to peel back the skin, say something

That transforms into another person's poem.

*

I can barely remember the sweet parts

But I was there when my brothers were born.

*

It's tough to chew but I am not ashamed

Of anything we yelled to each other.

*

If I knew my brothers now I'd tell

Them to speak. Although words

*

Sometimes turn over time

Against Speaker, poems

*

Become all

We have

*

Left.

Oh

*

Brother,

Do

*

You

Have

*

Power?

Yes

*

You

Have

*

Power.

So use it.