What attracted us to one another initially
was we shared the same womb
albeit the unconsidered products of flagrant passion
Anyway, we were pre-natal room mates
checking each other's progress
transfixed by the budding of tiny fingernails
and the rhythm of miniscule chests
rising and falling like pale pink bellows
My brother, for that's what he was now becoming,
had a curious almost whimsical shape
his head leaning to one side
as if he were always about to ask a question
He used to poke gentle fun
at my by now rapidly expanding feet
I only had two
but on occasions because of the space they took up
they seemed to number far more
I can't remember exactly when we were terminated
My brother went first
in plunged a knife
ended his life
with a slish and a slash and a silent scream
I proved to be a more unwilling participant
like an irritating piece of dust
in the very corner of a skirting board
a long thin nozzle entered my sanctuary/death cell
and I was sucked into oblivion
along with bits of my brother
all courtesy of the National Health Service
In California some beloved dogs
when they expire
are buried in oak coffins with gold handles
Respectful mourners attend and weep accordingly
We were poured into a black plastic sack
not a hymn nor a prayer was heard
We were going to be twins
my brother and I
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