The Boy Without a Voice

When you could not describe pain, you screamed
until I felt it. Your eyes like a cat's saucer, licked
clean. The story of five loaves and two fish
in reverse, a basket never full.

When you could not ask for food, you showed me
boxes: the baking soda box pictured cookies,
so that is how you interpreted it. I am the wizard
who turned the cookies to white, flavorless powder.

When you could not ask for help, your hands became
a language and I became your seeing-eye dog.
I have bruises that mean I want an apple
and My brother is crying too much.

When you could not say my name, I changed
it. A whimper, a toothy smile, silence:
I answer to all of these.