There is no blood we share
No common womb
But there is much more
than that between us.

We have fought shoulder
to heavy shoulder and we
have hauled each other 
home over troubled ground.

We have held each other up
and dried each other’s tears
when no one else would come
to save us from ourselves.

A friend yes, but so much more
A brother? The word hardly does you
justice for I have blood brothers
whom I realise I barely know.

There is only one word for this
and that is love, but even that is too
ill-defined. No, better call it what it is
for you would die for me and I for you.

This is the greatest love of all, but still
they ask, those who do not understand,
Am I this brother’s keeper? The answer:
Yes, I am, and he is forever mine.

Allan Gaw trained in pathology and is a Glasgow novelist and poet. This poem is from his collection The Sounds Men Make, addressing the idea of what it means to be male.

Poetry submissions to thursdaypoems@gmail.com.