My Brother Paul

I still remember that day in December,
When you pretended to fall on the stairs,
You said you were scared that the top of your head,
Was open and bared itself to the air,

I can cry,
If I try,
But I lie,
Awake at night,

You said that you tripped on the box that he shipped,
Before he committed himself to the war,
I was at work and believed you were hurt,
'Till I saw that dirt from a hole in the yard.

I can cry,
If I try,
But I lie,
Awake at night,

I was still crying and you were still lying,
The following morning out there in the hall,
And it was painful to watch you arrange,
Those portraits you made of my brother Paul.

I can't believe that I was deceived that day we received that present from Paul.