Prompt:

You were the first to stand in the doorway When the light went out and the world turned grey. Just a boy yourself, but you shouldered the sky While the waves hit the house and the well ran dry. Ten years of chaos, ten years of "why" You watched your brothers and sisters cry And you stood like a wall, you stood like a shield In the middle of a war on a home-grown field. Oh, my eldest son, my steady hand The one who stayed when we couldn't stand. Through your own heartache and your own quiet grief You were the anchor, you were the relief. I know it was heavy, I know it was loud But I hope you can hear me: I’ve never been so proud. You saw the arguments, you felt the heat You kept us moving on tired feet. Even when you were breaking, you offered a hand The bridge over water, the solid land. You lost a father-figure, you lost a guide But you kept all that kindness tucked deep inside Helping me breathe when the room felt small Picking us up when we’d stumble and fall. It wasn’t your job to carry us all To catch every tear, to answer every call. But you did it with grace, you did it with heart You kept the seven from falling apart. Now let the weight down, let the wind blow It’s your turn to live, it’s your turn to grow. Oh, my eldest son, my steady hand The one who stayed when we couldn't stand. Through your own heartache and your own quiet grief You were the anchor, you were the relief. I know it was heavy, I know it was loud But I hope you can hear me: I’ve never been so proud. The storm has settled, the sky is wide Thank you for staying right by my side. My brave one. My first one. Rest easy now... the work is done.