The Lie
For William Verdun Harris
My late brother.
It started years before I was born,
but the lie came into being after.
I knew nothing of it, why should I?
You never question your parents,
what they tell you, you believe.
Therefore, the lie grew and grew
as years folded into one another.
The lie became accepted as the truth.
Its hurt would not be felt
before four score and more had passed.
A Christmas card with a note from an Aunt.
Your half brother Bill would love to hear from you.
Half brother? I have no half brother.
He is your adopted brother
and my adopted uncle, so I was told.
No, he is your half brother.
I investigated what was said.
Soon the truth of the lie was revealed.
The lie had split two brothers,
to the other sides of the world.
Through urgent phone calls, I found him.
I had to see him, too many years had passed.
Who knows how long we had?
Travel plans were made,
the journey was now set.
After forty-two years, we came face to face.
Hug, tears and a family get together.
Those lost faces from the other side of the world.
We talked and talked into the night,
so much to learn and so little time.
Two weeks went quick and we parted again.
The telephone a communication line,
but how do you make up so many years,
with such little time?
The answer is you don’t.
The next year we extended our visit,
but still it wasn’t long enough.
We would never get another year,
within months my brother was gone,
and for months, I missed his calls.
But the lie was never retracted,
and my sister never got to know,
the other brother that she had.
She still believes the lie,
and won’t accept the truth.
She does not talk to me,
not out of anything either of us has done.
The long distant lie is at fault,
the guilt no one could admit to,
because they felt it would bring great shame.
Now a family lies in tatters,
a sad story all that remains,
about a lie, which almost the truth became.
What will the future bring, that’s something we can never tell.
I for one, hold no one with any ill will.
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
My Brother
Some moments are more momentous
than ever you could believe.
They are so great
that they take your breath away.
It started with a letter from an Aunt
who wrote and said your half brother Bill
would love to hear from you.
I did not have a half brother.
She had that all wrong,
the only Bill I remember
was adopted by my grandparents.
He was her half brother not mine.
However as it turned out
she was right and I was wrong.
For over fifty years,
his existence had been kept from me.
In the proceeding weeks that followed,
I found his address and then his telephone number,
then I phoned him.
For the first time in more than forty years,
I spoke to him.
At first, he could not believe it
and was sad because I never knew about him,
though he did know about me.
He thought I did not want to know him.
I made plans there and then to see him.
In 2001 we had our reunion
and I went back to see him again in 2002.
I could not go back to see him anymore
as my brother Bill passed away in 2003.
They say as one chapter closes another will soon begin.
In 2006, another chapter began,
but that is another story.
13 November 2008
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Brother Bill
This is the sad true story about my brother Bill
who was four years older than me.
He was born and then tossed aside by his mother
who left him to his father’s parents to raise,
then promptly disappeared out of his life forever.
My grandparents brought him up
hoping his father would take care of him
when he returned from the war.
His father also my dad returned from the war
married with another son and didn’t want to know.
They gave him a nickname in private
so no one else would know.
In private, they always called him Dopey.
My sister and I were told
our grandparents had adopted him
and he was nothing to do with us.
When my dad’s parents died in 1958 and 59
plans were made to come back to England
where my mother’s parents were still alive
and leave Bill far behind.
Then as his mother had done eighteen years before
his father abandoned him as well.
For a while, he had to live on the streets
taking handout from where ever he could.
He was arrested for vagrancy and sent to jail.
Getting out he got himself a job and began to build a life.
He got married and started a family,
until one night he came home
and found his wife in bed with another man,
and a divorce followed and he was alone again.
Then after 25 years, his job vanished
and he had to find another.
One day in 2000, he got a telephone call
and did not know whether to believe it or not.
It was a call he never thought he would ever get,
a call from his younger brother - me.
As we talked on the phone, some truths came to pass
his brother and his sister did not know about him.
They were told he had been adopted
and were nothing to do with them.
However, I had found the truth,
which incensed my mother enough to disown me.
We met one another for the first time
after forty-two years in 2001 and again in 2002.
In 2003, this sad story ends,
in the March of that year
Bill succumbed to a heart attack.
His final words were a testament to his life.
No one loved me enough to care.
The sad truth is someone did
and that someone was me.
We never had enough time together,
circumstances kept us apart,
but he was my brother
and will remain in my heart.
2 November 2009
Authors Note:
The facts are as Bill told them to me. A sad refrain to a wonderful guy who was tainted by my parents as being bad and no good. If the truth were known he was probably better than the both of them. He was a guy who would give you the shirt of his back if you needed it. My brother Bill, may he now rest in peace.
DVH - 2009
poem by David Harris
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For Bill - My Brother
Who was aged five when I was born
My brother
Who hid my toys and broke my dolls
My brother
Who avoided his sister at school all day
My brother
Who tolerated my teenage years
My brother
Who as an adult became a friend
My brother
Who mellowed with each passing year
My brother
Who supported my desire to immigrate
My brother
Who was there when others weren't
My brother
Who buried our parents while I was gone
My brother
Who cherished every visit I made
My brother
Who had his ticket to visit me here
My brother
Who unexpectedly died this year
My brother
poem by Evelyn Macdonald
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Half Blooded Brothers
You my blood half or full were brothers, regardless of what you do to each other, you my brother half or full, .
We keep each other good, you my brother half or full. We take care of each other, because we brothers half or full.
Imma stop trippin, it'll take a while, because im use to bullshittin and prickin, but you my brother half or full.
Stick together we will stay alive, all the bullshit I said, I've been a asshole, shit who hasn't, but you my brother half or full and I guess that's what family does.
Arguments and verbal brutality towards one another is what we do, because we will always be brothers half or full. Blood half or full, it doesn't matter, because we are brothers till the end of time, your my brother half or full.
poem by Arthur V. Miller III
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lifelong Bonds...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
To My Brother...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
Brother...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
The Blood That Binds...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
He Is My Blood...
More than the blood of my blood. He is my friend,
my rock...my brother.
Brother, in times of need, never judging, always there.
My Brother, could, would, always make things right.
Brother, never made much ado, about the task at
hand...he just did it.
Brother, who lifted me, when I was down.
Brother, who brought the laughter, amid the pain.
Brother, the word he never spoke...was 'no'.
Brother, who had the answers, to my questions.
Brother, who by example, did walk the path of right.
Brother, in all my years...in all my life, never have
I met another...like my loving brother.
He Was My Brother
He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty-three years old the day he died
Freedom writer
They cursed my brother to his face
Go home outsider
This town's gonna be your buryin' place
He was singin' on his knees
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong
He was my brother
Tears can't bring him back to me
He was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
He died so his brothers could be free
song performed by by Simon & Garfunkel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Where was my brother
Where was my brother when I needed him there?
Does he think I don’t notice or assume I don’t care?
Where was my bother it was once him and once me?
But now at some bad times it’s him I don’t see.
Where was my brother who’s back I once had?
You were the brother to count on the good times and bad.
Where was my brother by my side he should be?
He should be right here why can’t I see?
Where was my brother when I needed him most?
Now when I look to my side all I see is his ghost.
Where was my brother did I bring shame?
Does he remember me now, does he remember my name?
Where was my brother waiting to long for his call?
So I put up a brick on my emotional wall.
Where was my brother, its his court its his ball?
Guess my brother has proved he’s no brother at all.
poem by Empty Shell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Big Brother
Big Brother your sometimes a pain,
Big Brother you've seen more than i have.
Big Brother we sometimes fight.
Big Brother you've always we're there for me,
Big Brother you've protected me,
Even though sometimes you hate to admit it.
Big Brother you helped me learn some things,
Big Brother you made a path for me in this world.
And i thank you.
Big Brother you hate to admit your annoying little sister you love.
But big brother...
I thank you.
I thank you and i'll never forget all what you've done for me.
I love you big brother & i wish the best for you.
This poem is © to
Ashley Hall
poem by Ashley Hall
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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We Don’t Need Big Brother
We don’t need Big Brother.
We don’t need to watch other people
For our own amusement.
We don’t need Big Brother
Following us all around.
We don’t need Big Brother
Watching us all the time.
1984 is 22 years gone,
And Big Brother lives on.
Wannabes and losers vying
For our attention,
Hoping for fame,
Which lasts for 15 minutes,
If their lucky.
What a world we have become,
When we rely on Big Brother
To feed us idiots to follow around.
We have become Big Brother,
Yet 1984 is 22 years gone.
1/08/06
poem by Charlie F. Kane
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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He Was My Brother
He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty-three Years old the day he died
Freedom writer
They cursed my brother to his face
Go home outsider
This town's gonna be your buryin' place
He was singin' on his knees
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong
He was my brother
Tears can't bnng him back to me
He was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
He died so his brothers could be free
song performed by by Paul Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Best Man I Can Be
[r.l.]
Yeah this is for my brothers in the hood
And the high risers, on the mansions with the maids
We gotta come together, come on yall
Case, ginuwine, tyrese, and me r.l.
Help me sing it fellas, yeah
[case]
Im sitting here alone
Trying to face another day
Gotta stay strong, hmm
To endure this pain
[r.l.]
Im dealing with right now
It flipped my whole life upside down
I dont want your help
I dont need your sympathy, no
[all]
What can a brother do for me?
(see he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can be your eyes when you cant see)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can help me be the best man I can be)
(oh I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
[tyrese]
(be the best man)
I made a big mistake
And Im feeling so ashamed
And I dont want to lose my friendship over it
Ive gotta keep the faith, yes I do
[ginuwine]
Cause Im still your boy, Ive got your back
Thatll never, never, never, never gonna change
So I can just cite the truth
And keep smiling in your face
[all]
What can a brother do for me?
(he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can be your eyes when you cant see)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can help me be the best man I can be)
(I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
[tyrese]
I keep struggling but Im trying my best
I got some issues with my own confidence
Lord help me to forgive and forget
Can you please help me to be a better man?
[r.l.]
For the rest of the darkest nights
Shines the brightest sun
I hate the man I used to be
Im better than before
[all]
What can a brother do for me?
(he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can know the wrong to make it right)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can be your eyes when you cant see)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, whoa I can be, oh I can be, oh I can be)
Help me be the best man I can
[case]
Cause hes my brother, brother, brother, brother
Yes he is my brother, brother, brother, brother
[r.l.]
Sees when Im down on my luck and im
Crying cause a woman done left me
I aint got nothing cause its cold outside
Hell give me a ride
When its late at night
Cause hes my brother, brother, brother, brother
See sometimes I may go astray but hell lead me back the right way
And tell me everythings okay
Cause hes my brother, brother, brother, brother
Brother, brother, brother, brother
Oh I know sometimes youll need me and I got your back
Oh cause I know you got mine
Cause youre my brother
And I love you, love you, love you
You can count on me, sing it
Case, tyrese and g, you are my brother, brother, brother
[tyrese]
R.l oh my brother
Late up at night
If you need a helping hand just call on me
Talking bout my brothers, brothers, brothers
All across the world, my brothers yeah
I love you
song performed by by Ginuwine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Case, Ginuwine, Tyrese, & R. L. ---the Best Man I Can Be
From best man soundtrack
[r.l.]
Yeah this is for my brothers in the hood
And the high risers, on the mansions with the maids
We gotta come together, come on yall
Case, ginuwine, tyrese, and me r.l.
Help me sing it fellas, yeah
[case]
Im sitting here alone
Trying to face another day
Gotta stay strong, hmm
To endure this pain
[r.l.]
Im dealing with right now
It flipped my whole life upside down
I dont want your help
I dont need your sympathy, no
[all]
What can a brother do for me?
(see he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can be your eyes when you cant see)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can help me be the best man I can be)
(oh I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(oh yeah, yeah, yeah)
[tyrese]
(be the best man)
I made a big mistake
And Im feeling so ashamed
And I dont want to lose my friendship over it
Ive gotta keep the faith, yes I do
[ginuwine]
Cause Im still your boy, Ive got your back
Thatll never, never, never, never gonna change
So I can just cite the truth
And keep smiling in your face
[all]
What can a brother do for me?
(he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can be your eyes when you cant see)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can help me be the best man I can be)
(I can be, I can be, oh I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
[tyrese]
I keep struggling but Im trying my best
I got some issues with my own confidence
Lord help me to forgive and forget
Can you please help me to be a better man?
[r.l.]
For the rest of the darkest nights
Shines the brightest sun
I hate the man I used to be
Im better than before
[all]
What can a brother do for me?
(he can you help you up when you are down)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can know the wrong to make it right)
What can a brother do for me?
(he can be your eyes when you cant see)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, I can be, I can be, I can be)
He can help me be the best man I can be
(I can be, whoa I can be, oh I can be, oh I can be)
Help me be the best man I can
[case]
Cause hes my brother, brother, brother, brother
Yes he is my brother, brother, brother, brother
[r.l.]
Sees when Im down on my luck and im
Crying cause a woman done left me
I aint got nothing cause its cold outside
Hell give me a ride
When its late at night
Cause hes my brother, brother, brother, brother
See sometimes I may go astray but hell lead me back the right way
And tell me everythings okay
Cause hes my brother, brother, brother, brother
Brother, brother, brother, brother
Oh I know sometimes youll need me and I got your back
Oh cause I know you got mine
Cause youre my brother
And I love you, love you, love you
You can count on me, sing it
Case, tyrese and g, you are my brother, brother, brother
[tyrese]
R.l oh my brother
Late up at night
If you need a helping hand just call on me
Talking bout my brothers, brothers, brothers
All across the world, my brothers yeah
I love you
song performed by by Next
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That child
Eight years old and already hate life
Abused by her adopted mother
Raped by her adopted brother
She is just a child and she cant be more.
The bruises on her back keeps her silent
She cries at night till the pain is numb
And when he is on top of her she drifts away
Away from body away from spirit.
Nine years old and it continues
To protect her blood brother from the same
She pretends nothing is wrong
For him, trying so hard to be strong.
She cared so much for her blood brother
She took his bruises upon her self
And he was only a year younger
And they both were just kids.
Ten years old and he still knows nothing
She must be the best secret keeper
Or just a scarred girl who doesnt want her brother to know
Either way she is just a child.
Eleven years old nothing changes
Twelve years old she is getting fed up
The nights when he would come in and do what ever
Forced to mature before her time.
Fourteen she tells her adopted mother
And adopted mother beats her and the girl knows not why
Is it because the mother doesn't believe her
Or does not care enough for her feelings
Sixteen she tries to runaway
Her aunt talks to her so she goes back
Seventeen she moves out and graduate high school
What do you know she graduate with honors.
Eighteen she joins the military
Her blood brother still knows nothing
He see her for her success and not her struggle
That is how she want to keep it.
Her childhood was taking
She just met her birth father
Knows not her birth mother
Her biological brother is all she has
At Nineteen she wrote this poem.
And still remembers that child.
poem by Tressa Carliss
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The Love From A Brother
Talked like besties..
Talked like friends..
In the end..
Talked like brothers and sisters..
A brother filled with love..
A brother full of joy..
A brother full of hope..
And the best is a brother full of care..
He’s amazing..
He’s wonderful..
He’s Always around…
I tell him everything..
Everything that comes into my mind…
If I was to be honest..
He is great! !
A brother should help you..
In whatever situation your in..
Starting at problems..
And finishing with Laughter..
Your Brother..
He’s a person that will understand..
A person that makes fun of you..
In a very funny way..
Which makes you giggle and laugh along..
My brother is my life..
He is my everything..
If he goes..
Then there is no-one else in this world..
But if it was me to be going..
I would make him Happy..
And keep him smiling..
Till his day comes..
I’d wished I was always with him..
Taking to him..
Going out places with him..
And more..
I wish I could live..
Like..
I was his lil sister..
Two fingers on one hand..
A real brother and sister would live..
I know that onde day..
In my life..
I will see him..
I will live like I was his little sister..
Now all I do..
Is wait..
Wait for that one day to come! !
This is how a real brother should be! !
poem by Heaven Gift
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Confessions of a Bound Soul
Brother, my brother,
How selfish was I
While you seemed to struggle,
I sat idly by
Brother, my brother
Yes, try as I might
I now realize
It was also my fight
Brother, my brother
Now look at your arm
It's cold and immovable
Lost all its charm
Brother, my brother
Now look at your leg
There's so much left missing
Yet not once did you beg
Brother, my brother
Though I lost more in mass
It is you far more haunted
By our mistakes in the past
Brother, dear brother
Listen when I say
I will stick by your side
Until this goes away
Brother, dear brother
Listen when I say
I will stick by your side
Until our final day
poem by Amanda Saveley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Brother To Brother Hymn
Brother to brother
I know that I can always coun on you
Because you are my brther
And I am your brother also
Brother to brother
Your life is different than mine
You live in Brazil
I live in Canad a country that is more advanced in technology
Brother to brother
I will pray for you
Eventhough you don't believe in God
Brother to brother I will email you more frequently
Brother to brother I will sing you a song
Brother to brother I hope the saints will go to Sao paulo and watch you While you are sleeping
poem by Aldo Kraas
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