Brother (In-Law)

by nsteveng

August 1979 - February 1999

I think we would play basketball together.

There are things that my father has taught me
Lessons that only he is equipped to pass down
God-ordained and inspired
But still
In this one arena
I wished for an older brother.
A relevant wisdom,
I think I would learn from you.
Watch and study the grace must’ve had.
From handle and position
To just-plain-style
Because as a child of the Magic versus Michael age
Your game definitely showed it.
Classic.
Timeless.
Undying.
Forever.

I think we would listen to music together.

You were tall, weren’t you?
It runs in your family
Like the smiles I never got to see in person,
I bet that Jeter grin lit up four walls
Brighter than watts and candles
Like the laughter that still echoes
Loudly
Like a subwoofer each family member’s chest
Vibrating with broad strokes of color and bass and life
You
Are why she writes still
And she can’t forget you
And she won’t forget you
So I wanted to take the time out to wonder
Would your head bob back-to-front like mine?
Would you have liked J. Cole as much as me?
Would you have laughed at how much I liked Michael Jackson?
Or would I have convinced you to give TobyMac a try?

I think you would have liked my family.

Your daps must’ve been warm.
Unlike the braggadocious greetings of this generation,
Strangled and suffocated by swagged out tentacles
Drowned by gallons of delicious ignorance,
Legions of the “Leggo” and “No Homo” variety,
No.
A brotherly fist bump,
Close back pat,
And a firm embrace.
Confident.
…I’ve heard about how you worked with the ladies
Never disrespectful,
Human,
But a Child of God.
You
Are why she accepts me as a future son in law.
And she can’t forget you
And she won’t forget you.
So I wanted to take some time out
And wonder
If you could get used to Callaloo and roti,
Ox tail and cabbage,
Ginger beer and sill figs?

I hope you would’ve liked me.

I know you.
Your smile.
Each time I cross the South Carolinian state line,
Or
Everytime I happen to make your beautiful sister smile
Or
Each time your mother talks about Kevin Hart
Or
Each moment I watch your son
Turn
Into
You are why they grin
Why they sing
Why every eighth month,
They celebrate your memory
Why they enjoy you still.

And they can’t forget you
And they won’t forget you.

So I wonder
Why would I?

You are classic.
You are timeless.
You are undying.
You are my brother.

For Michael Bradley Jeter