randcpoem

"MY BROTHER RAYMOND"

I had a brother who was everything to me
He was my guarding angel and protector, you see
As far back as I can remember he took care of me
He brushed my hair and washed my face
Held me close to keep me safe
At night he would rock me to sleep
To make the demons go away into the deep

He played the guitar and sang country songs
Why he even gave me a juice harp so I could play along
the tunes that he played would be happy or sad
The ones that put your feet to tapping really made me glad
My other brother, Clyde, learned to play the guitar, too
When they started to play and sing
the whole family would gather round
We would all join in to make a joyful sound

When I was six and walking to school
He bought me a raincoat with a hood of blue
My feet would get wet, so he bought me golushers, too
He loved to play jokes, and then laugh with glee
when the surprise on my face he would see
Knowing he had tricked me once again
That was alright because we were kin

He loved me just because I was me
I was a girl, but that didn't bother him, you see
I was his sister, the only one he had
And he would cheer me up when I was sad
He would stand in between dad and the rest of us
Because sometimes dad would drink and cuss

One day the picture man came to town
And he dressed me up and sat me in a chair
I still have the picture were I looked so young and fair
He loved to look out the window and see a red bird sitting in a tree
sometimes he would dream of going far away and out to sea

His love surrounded me in so many ways
years and months and many days
He would reach out his hand and walk by my side
And protect me from harm so I wouldn't cry
All through the years the bond secure
the love between brother and sister was pure

We had to face parting with his eyes full of tears
to all the family he was so dear
He was only fourty three when they told us the news
He was very sick with cancer and dying
My heart broke, I couldn't stop crying
We held hands to the last, talking about good things in the past
He left to go to heaven, so peaceful and quite
It was like the angels just lifted him up out of sight

Today I feel his love and can hear him say
" I'll take care of you until I see you one fine day
We will be together in heaven ,I pray"
So take care little sis, and comb that hair
Like I showed you to when I sat you in that chair"
"I will play the guitar and sing you a song
Because in heaven no one can do any wrong"

We will walk together on the streets of gold, my brothers and I
We will sing and shout and give a heavenly cry
The tears that we shed on this earth will be dried
We will spend eternity praising God
ME, Raymond, and Clyde

Written on thee morning of Febuary Fifth
Nineteen Hundred and Ninty Nine
five O 'Clock A>M>
BY
MARGARET W.GRIER
Copyright...MWG