An H2-Ode to Brotherhood

Dedicated to Jeremy Sims

Forever my brother. My brother forever.

I would expect nothing less than mental instability from a person whose remarkable talent and penetrating insight are confined to the means of the menial servitude. Sometimes greatness is too heavy for one mind to bear and the necessity for additional personalities expands accordingly. It makes sense, really. You are seldom satisfied because your mind has glimpsed true brilliance, and your real-life circumstances are rather squalid in comparison to the dreams you see when you close your eyes. It is a difficult cross to be nailed to, being better than where you are and being better than those above you. And yet, your magnanimous approach to life and to its infinite hardships have simultaneously garnered you the admiration and contempt of others. Being the bigger man, at times, makes you look like the bigger fool. What good, after all, is a pacifist in a fist fight? You’re like a professor in an empty classroom; teaching everyone in your immediate presence nothing since no one is there to learn, and yet the notion of an empty classroom beckons reliable pupils to attend. A sly play on circumstance, lulling passersby into thinking you’re the bigger fool when the empty classroom is actually a deliberate tool to sift the diamonds from the dirt. Even the pacifist knows the true fight, the fight the attendants to the brawl can’t see, cannot be won with fists. They call you the bigger fool.

And you know what? You make me want to be the bigger fool, too.

My brother forever. Forever my brother.

I’ll reserve you nothing less than an ocean of respect,

And a mountain of love

With a mind to reflect,

A whole planet of laughs

With a moon that can rhyme,

Stars of knowledge and friendship;

Solar systems sublime.

Because, with us two combined,

We are never alone,

Though we are two different kings

From two different thrones,

With two different lives,

With two different goals,

In two different battles,

With two different roles,

From two different minds,

With two different hearts,

But similar souls

And similar smarts,

With similar passions,

And similar arts,

And similar styles

From similar parts,

Walking the aeons,

Surfing the time,

Surveying the mountains

That both of us climb,

One by the boot-straps.

One by the college.

Both achieve greatness

From the other one’s knowledge.

Forever my brother. My brother forever

A worthy mentor

A worthy comedian

A worthy actor