title: Big Brother: Poems For Beginners
author:  Sunday Igwebuike 
description: An African poet and Novelist hails from Onicha-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. Among his works are: Cross Road and Other Stories,The Missing Girl and A Tale Of Two Brothers. He is a contributor to Ayaka online Magazine. Presently Studying Library And Information Science at Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria.
zlib_text: For my younger brother, Christian—
  
  May you never be made to feel small.
  
  May you always be unafraid to stand up.
  
  —J. R.
  
  For all the organizers and educators who live and work with love—thank you.
  
  —B. K.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “History can only teach its lesson if it is remembered.”
  
  —Carmelo Soto
  
  “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
  
  But if I am only for myself, what am I?”
  
  —Hillel the Elder
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  > > > ZOOM IN.
  
  > > > > ZOOM IN MORE.
  
  > > > > A LITTLE MORE.
  
  > > A BOY, GRAINY.
  
  > > FACEDOWN ON THE PAVEMENT.
  
  > A MAN ABOVE HIM. FISTS RAINING LIKE STONES.
  
  > > HOWLING. LIGHTS AND SIRENS.
  
  > > > BLOOD ON THE STREET.
  
  > > > THE BOY IS STILL MOVING.
  
  > > > > AND THEN HE IS NOT.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Friday
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00002.jpg)
  
  Your left! Your left! Your left-right-left! Your left! Your left! Your left-
  right-left!
  
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
  
  I left. I left. I left-left-left that wack school and that even more wack ROTC
  drill team because it was Friday, which to me, and basically every other
  person on