Brother - Billy

It started growing in a field Billy Stover watched it grow Because the corn was tall Because Billy Stover was small No one knew Now one saw No one saw how the tiny boy watched by the hour in summer's heat Even from the top of high elm trees by the road who could have detected that small lad stretched out on his stomach leaning on his elbows watching On stormy days Billy watched from the closest window elbows propped up on the sill He knew it was growing though he couldn't see it He'd be down in the field now in the mud watching but his mother forbade it "What do you do out there Billy all by yourself? What is it you do out there instead of playing?" On certain days when the wind swayed the green stalks and nipped Billy's cheeks his eyes would light up He fought back a burning desire to run into the white kitchen to tug at his mother's apron to bring her out and show her his one spot He jumped up once when the flames leaped high started running for the house "Mother! Mother!" he silently shouted Every part of his small body shook with joy but The bleak white walls of the kitchen his mother her hands dipped in bread dough.................................... It started growing in the field in the dirt in the mind of Billy Stover And no one could have kept a secret better than Billy