Thy Brother Is Thee

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” he asked me. 
“What else is as important?” I rejoined. 
Listening, I heard: “Much else,” spoken softly. 
He smiled as though the words had just been found. 
Laughing, I shouted swiftly with mirth my truth, 
and so doing: winged beauties took to flight. 
Once again he smiled –  pride born of his youth. 
I gazed deep within; found of light, no sight. 
He saw his reflection in my eyes: wrath – 
The youth took a brief step backward, angry; 
saying with spit flying in a vectored path 
flare-blast: “Within each is all – can’t you see? 
To help all: You must be your own keeper!” 
He limped away, his words echoing deeper.