Brother, I

Remember that time
back at the old house
with our pink cherry trees
and the willow out back
you pissed in bottles
in the basement
in your section

you were in the
garage
and I saw
your plastic weed baggie
you told me
“Don’t tell mom”
frantically
“Please”
and I didn’t

Remember when you
took me out
to the street gutter
in front of the
yellow fire hydrant
and dumped
your
plastic weed baggie
out saying,
“This is the last of it”

I was so
relieved because
now maybe mom and dad
would sleep in
the same room again
and Julia would
stop being so emotional
all
the
time



I knew
the oregano
was missing