Like Glue

Sitting in the house,
The food covered,
The fireworks done,
Someone decided to watch
Independence Day -- usually you.
You made the same comments,
All of the same jokes and asides,
Every time, since you were five.
So did they. So did I. We all did.
Christmas and birthdays? The same.
Our dads having the same conversations
In the same order, every single time.
I never realized, until you were gone,
That you were like glue.
You kept us together
I can't explain it, but you did.
Reminding us to laugh.
Breaking up tension with a joke.
Your smile, like dawn and sunset,
All at once. You lightened every mood.
You kept us together.
Happy. Smiling.
But suddenly -- darkness.
You were gone.
Now we're broken,
And we have no glue.