Onii-sama
Osashiburi ne
Samishi katta yo
Imouto-chan Tadaimasu

I've been longing
to hear the words
welcome back
tumble from your lips
The same way
my green tea
mint and honey
falls into this lumpy mug

Though the sky is bright
Even so, the world's alive
People passing by
are smiling and laughing
While they have theirs
I have mine own
creative ceramic gift
that just couldn't fit

Long before now
your momma told me
It was not to be
We shared something
that severed our hearts
while binding us together
back to back
clasping one another's hand

The little boy
who took me treating
Blue fur and a red bow
without the silly mask
because it scared me
tricked me into a security
which would be pulled away
from underneath me

The little boy
Who showed up in the snow
all bundled up
showing only a smile
knocked on my door
with a brightly colored package
He brought me A tiny white
retarded looking fuzzy bear

The only one who cared
enough to remember
was silent and distant
before the spring
hiding behind his tree
while I watched
his life, boxed and sealed
taken away from me

In my own defense
all of the memories
I gathered together
in a shoe box for
He couldn't look at me
when he yelled
about not caring
about that stupid stuff

Onii-sama
Osashiburi ne
Samishi katta yo
Imouto-chan Tadaimasu

I've been longing
to see your smile
hopeless and infectious
to break away the clouds
Just like this paper bag puppet
with her nasally voice
my funny caricature
always amused us

Though the sky is bright
Even so, the world's alive
People passing by
are smiling and laughing
While they have theirs
I have my own
absurd mess of glue and yarn
that wouldn't make it there

Long before now
my papa told me
It was not to be
We shared something
that severed our hearts
while binding us together
back to back
staring at one another's profiles

The teenage guy
who let me in
when I showed up
uninvited and blustery
took me in for a weekend
to try to give me hope
that moving on option
was the only one I had

The teenage guy
who took me bowling
and out to eat
Then to a parking lot
confiscated my bottle
of Jack Daniel's
to keep my weeping rant
from losing control

The only one who cared
enough to listen
was silent but distant
deep into the morning
until the sun opened my eyes
in a sleepy stupor
we made a silent agreement
his lips were soft and warm

In my own defense
I keep gathered together
all of these memories
'cause I can't forget
He couldn't look away from me
dressed in his old clothes
pressed up against the window
as my train pulled away

Onii-sama
Osashiburi ne
Samishi katta yo
Imouto-chan Tadaimasu

I've been longing
to feel your warmth
pumping throughout
my ever frozen form
I used to escape from it
with the sweater you
left in my basement
on my seventh birthday

Though the sky is bright
Even so, the world's alive
People passing by
are smiling and laughing
While they have theirs
I have this now
entirely too small brown shirt
that should have stayed there

Long before now
your brother told you
and my sister told me
We shared something
that mended other's hearts
and held us close together
side by side
holding one another's hand

The Young Man
who came for a visit
home from college
When I was all alone
surprised me
by eating my home cooking
and settled down
in my home as if it was his own

The Young Man
who showed up in the fall
with a backpack
and pleading eyes
took my hand
led me to the same old room
pushed me down
and shared my bed

In my own defense
all of these memories
Are scattered together
since I won't ever forget
how he looked above me
completely pained
trying with everything he had left
to make this worth something

Onii-sama
Osashiburi ne
Samishi katta yo
Imouto-chan Tadaimasu

I've been longing
to see you once again
I have been sad
without you around
Even if what they said
is really the truth
I can't deny the feelings
I tried to hold back

Because the sky is bright
Maybe the world's alive
People passing by
are spitting and cursing
While I have mine
And they have theirs
There is something
we forgot to pack

Do you remember
Long before now
you asked me a question
and I agreed
We had our own little ceremony
what you gave me
I used to wear on my thumb
today, it rides my pinky

that little boy
stole out of his house
in his sunday suit
and was waiting
under the canopy
of the shadowed forest
and as the rain came down
He spoke his vows

This little girl
snuck out the basement
in a flower girls dress
rushing to be nothing
but a white blur
so this secret was theirs alone
and as the rain came down
She recited her confirmation

This was no game
but they swore to a lie
and spoke in tongues
to be misunderstood
They played in the dark
around corners
in secret gardens
where they were free

In our defense
It's not as if we
made this easier
we held onto a mystery
that separation forced us
to keep silent
But now I am old enough
to make my own mistakes

Big Brother
It's been too long
I've been sad without you
your little sister is home