Silent Angel

 From the moment you took your first breaths,

You were well acquainted with life's pain.

A difficulty beyond my understanding.

The abnormal and underdeveloped muscled legs

And the little red scars marked upon your ankles

Speak of your difficulties in walking.

The hand you preferred now stuck in a tight fist,

A victim of an attack of grand mal seizures,

Clasps tightly against your heart.

A missing front tooth in your broad smile,

Reminds me of seeing you in so much pain

When I wiped the silent tears from your eyes.

The scar marks under your chin and elbows

Mark the times when seizures gave you rug burn

And rubbed your skin raw.

Your tongue isn't able to function as it should,

Unable to communicate your thoughts, 

Leaving everyone to wonder about them.

Such difficulties could ruin a man's life,

Yet few times do you get angry or impatient.

Instead your outburst of a laugh lights up the room.

Quietly you sit.

Patient. Calm.

In complete humility and meekness you trust those who help you.

It may appear that we are the ones taking care of you,

But in reality, you are taking care of us.

Our silent angel.

Commentary:

Wrote this about my brother. I've been helping take care of him since I was young, and I think among my siblings, he's the one I'm closest to, because he's knows practically everything about me, because it was his room I went to when I was upset or needed to vent.  He had to endure all of that, poor thing. We get along super well, and sometimes I've been the only one able to help him in times of distress, but I'd say he's helped me more than I've helped him.