I went to check
up on him
the news of his fate
in my mind
slowly starting
to go dim
I fear my heart
will never do more
but ache and carry
his desire to live
brother,
the decision was made
for us, not by us
the sad truth
of those painfully poor
Mother knew it first
the silence that evening
outside his window
tormented her
she mourned his death
before he had left
upon not hearing the neighboring crickets,
their departure—uncoerced
Ausencia
We’ll forever lament
the moment the crickets
took with them
my brother’s last breath
a lock of his hair was left to grasp
along with the departure of crickets
and what that painfully meant
