YOUR BROTHER

Both grandmothers
Are horrified when
Your father and I
Say you look like
A pretty orangutan.

Cousins and friends
Outraged when we
Show off your fuzzy,
mad-scientist, male-
pattern-baldness hair.

***

Of course we only say these things
Around other people. Alone with you,
We are reduced to unclever,
childish annotation: Sooo cute!
Awesomest baby in the world!

Clearly, we just aren’t as well
Adjusted as your big brother,
Who is so proud of you
And so full of fond wonder
And doesn’t care who knows it.


___