Prompt #15 The Elder Brother

For today's prompt, I want you to take the title of a poem you especially like (by another poet) and change it. Then, with this new altered title, I want you to write a poem. An example would be to take William Carlos Williams' "The Red Wheelbarrow" and change it to "The Red Volkswagon." Or take Frank O'Hara's "Why I Am Not a Painter" and change it to "Why I Am Not a Penguin." You get the idea, right? (Note: Your altered poem does NOT have to follow the same style as the original poet, though you can try if you wish.)

The Elder Brother

After The Elder Sister by Sharon Olds

He was born to be impatient
with instructions, puts the bicycle
wheels on backwards, breached
himself, this would be natural.
Being well informed he knows

the thud of an axe in the shin,
the mind numbing pain of a dropped
railroad tie on toes. I envy his reckless
going forth, the must-haves that came
so easily to us, must have been

his albatross. Then there are the musts;
how to fill the shoes of the old man
at the age of twelve after he was gone.
He looks after us like a wild dog
from a distance, chooses his moments

of generosity the way weekend Christians
find their way to church. But when he gives
he gives everything and it shines
like the widow’s mite, worth more
than anything you ever expected.

4/24/2009 1:54:35 PM #796