Except
Thomas Merton Brightman
All rights reserved

The family slept upstairs
Except
He who sleeps down

They slept in the front rooms
Except
He who sleeps in the back

They slept inside the house
Except
He who sleeps in the garage

They moved to Texas
Except
He who is left in Alabama

Detachment develops protection
Distancing feeling with words
Never utter--'my family'

The 'Will' read-in those included
Except
He who is excluded

Partition of Firstborn beginning to end
Sparse inclusion at 'the family' inn
Except

Exceptional I became
In accepting my sacred name
He Who Bears the Gift of Tears