My Brother’s Keeper

Am I my brother’s keeper? The Father asked of me.

Are all of his bad habits my responsibility?

You know he has free will. Do I need to hold his hand As he has good times and dances to his personal kind of band?

But wait! I have no brother.

Two cousins and a sister Complete my family tree.

Since I have no brother, who will MY keeper be?

You are wrong my son.; as wrong as you can be.

You are my child; your brothers include all humanity.

All men are my children; men and women too.

I gave life to each of them, and I gave life to you.

Your siblings stretch back in time through all eternity.

They are all your brothers from Adam to Zachary.

But Lord there are too many, even as you say.

How do I keep them all on the straight and narrow way?

Some you can reach out and touch to help them on their way.

Others you can guide through the words you choose to say.

Others are too distant to direct them easily.

But your life can be a beacon for all the world to see.

- Frank Watson