Three now two

The three of us, many decades ago — picture from the Jacobs family archives — probably taken by my dad

We who were once three
Are now just two
Compared contrasted
One against two
Who was which
Depended on their moods

Oldest almost a decade
Removed from youngest
Me stuck right in the middle
Meant life’s challenges
Hit our guts at different places
What was hardest for one
Barely remembered by another

Didn’t know then what was real
Wish I had known it
Before it was too late
Tried to correct what
The younger one thought was true
Too little too late
She never really believed me

Older and wiser the two of us left
Try not to let the past bury us
We are who we are
Because of, in spite of
Too many missed years
Closer now at last