Best Man in Absentia 

It is harder to give a toast to a camera
Than an audience
My brother told me

I’ll try to call before I pop smoke

There was a calmness in his voice

I hung up
Wondering what it would feel like
To know I was going to war

Two days later
At 18:11 MST
He called to say he was on the plane

I love you

Have a great wedding

The toast is in the mail