instructions on growing up

If you wrap your hand around your mother's wrist 

your fingers will touch. How 

do you come to terms with that? How 

do you learn that your father's shoulders 

can no longer bear your weight, can barely 

hold his own? 

Your little brother does not look at you 

the way he once did: like 

you'd hung the moon and stars just for him. 

Your little brother does not look at you 

much at all. How 

do you grow up 

knowing the things you are killing 

to do so? 

I am still young. I still 

have much to learn.