Daniel, My Brother

Daniel is leaving tomorrow on a plane.

It reminds me of the melancholic lyrics to “Daniel” by Bernie Taupin, hauntingly sung by Elton John.

Released when he was ten years old, I have always thought the song was written . . . for me, about Daniel . . . my brother.

Though he is younger, not older than me, it speaks of pain, scars that won’t heal, and Daniel’s eyes.

Daniel’s eyes.

When I first heard it, I though Daniel died in the song, and I cried and cried.

Daniel, my own brother, had almosst died a few years before, and the emotional trauma was still a fresh wound — a scar that hadn’t healed.

It seemed as if the songwriting duo knew about me and Daniel, about our shared histories, about our brotherly bond that won’t be broken.

My eyes have cried.

Tears in my eyes have always come easy and quickly for me.

It’s been a great annoyance and embarrassment all of my life.

I’ve seen it as a sign of weakness, but I’m starting to believe they mean I care so much about Daniel, I just can’t hold my tears in.

I know his journey will differ from that in the song.

Tears will cloud my eyes when i see Daniel waving goodbye tomorrow.

I will miss him very much.

An excerpt from Pedro & Daniel (Levine Querido 2023)

Federico Erebia, a retired physician, woodworker, author, poet, and illustrator, is the recipient of the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Exceptional New Writer. His debut novel, Pedro & Daniel (Levine Querido 2023), has received awards and other critical acclaim. He lives in Massachusetts with his husband. He suggests comparing Bernie Taupin’s lyrics, Elton John’s song, and the passage above.