When the Champ Has Fallen
I had taken a spill
off of my red bike
with the black banana seat
my older brother stopped to help
he waved on those bigger boys
Jim Lappan Jason Tobin Jeff Borst
he let them ride away from us
I knew what it cost him
and I knew he was not mad
was not counting this loss against me
he picked my bike up off the street
helped me hobble home
reminded me of funny stories
that I was his Champ
how Champs are tough
to keep me from crying in the street
my brother pushed both bikes along
mine and his
and I knew he was not mad
was not counting this weakness against me
when no one was home to patch me up
he poured the bactine on my
wounds by himself
the white bottle with the green top
held carefully in his hands
he blew his little boy’s breath
on my scraped knees on my right palm
used squares of toilet paper to
wipe away the blood and the pebbles
the mixture of my anxiety
and I knew he was not mad
was not counting this procedure against me
despite missing the bike ride
the camaraderie of bigger boys without small sisters
the potential to be part of something important
he remained
got me a popsicle turned on the TV
stayed home to see that we were fine
even then he knew the value
of
serving
of loving no matter what
of being needed
and I knew he was not mad
was not counting this afternoon against me