because of the braces
his smile is closed tight
concealing
plaid is no longer cool
solid colored T-shirts preferred
when we talk
I tilt my head
back and up
and see chin
he has my brother’s eyebrows now
bequeathed
no more need
to flip socks inside out
seams touching toes
finally tolerable
he still loves his dog
more than anything
or anyone
still yells from his bed
for someone to come
scratch his head
when he can’t fall asleep
when he got behind the wheel
yesterday, driving
he asked me
if I was as relaxed as I professed
why was my right hand clutching the door
and he turned
a wide, sealed smile my way
blue eyes bright
April 2015
Julie Ayers
NaPoWriMo Day 14
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