My Brother's Keeper

by Thomas Beckwith

Well before I existed, the

chapter

Image credit: Warren on Unsplash

had already been written.

I was meant to be a brother.

I was supposed to be their protector.

We are competitors —

We challenged each other in everything.

We fought. We ran.

            We jumped.

We bustled. We hustled. We tussled.

            We argued. We are brothers.

We survived the bitterness of the past.

We did not come from money,

or have a lot of food.

We survived gunshots in the hood.

We struggled. We are brothers.

Some of us graduated.

            Some of us didn’t.

Some of us are stuck in the past.

All in all, we are still brothers.

Some of us are locked up in prison.

            Some of us did not make it past twenty-five.

Rest in peace, brother.

            I am sorry I couldn’t be your protector.

Am I still my brother’s keeper?

***

Thomas Beckwith

Thomas Beckwith is an Assistant Director for the University of Florida’s Office of Academic Support, where he provides support to students including academic coaching, leadership development, and holistic success planning. He also enjoys writing in his authentic voice, finding it to be a therapeutic way to process experiences and overcome past trauma.