the favorite child

gets the attention -

and that is no surprise

the favorite child

gets his first car for free

gets the toys he wants

gets the college bond

they also get

the father’s dreams

that he never achieved

forced upon them

the mother’s religion

handcuffing them

to a church pew

the parents mistakes

as being first time parents

acting as salt in the wounds

the favorite child

is hawkeyed

under a microscope

and

never learns how to be alone

while the other child

develops an imagination

and

lives in freedom

while walking

through the remnants

of battlefields

the favorite child

has already fought