whipsawed: the way things stood ... and now stand

at first I was only,

although but briefly.

too soon a brother,

well, arrived,

and I became the elder

of two.

he died ...

which made me just an only

once again.

then another brother,

well, arrived:

and I became again the elder

of two.

he lived; I stayed

the elder.

then another brother,

well, arrived;

and I became the eldest

then of three.

he died:

and I became, again, the elder

of two ...

when I was merely three

(years old, that is).

much later came the sister first:

and I became again the eldest

of three.

until a second sister,

well, arrived ...

and I became the eldest

of the four.

the second sister died

at thirty.

so I became again the eldest---

now of three.

-----

yet forever one of six.