my heavy-handed brother
do all of the burdens that caused you to blunder here
still follow you to the after, to the over there?

are there still monetary troubles
unnecessary agitation and aggression
your moments of temper bursts
and unparreled depression?

or have you changed
become a man who can endure emotional pain
who can walk away from a disagreement the defeated
who doesn't always triumphantly parade around as the defeater
who doesn't need to have his influence conquer over the lives of others.

the glimmers of the latter leapt forward later,
when you were here,
have they now turned into dazzling beams of light
reflecting your newness, your sainthood?

or are you still striving to become something pure and good?