Jan – My Brother

This poignant tale of my brother’s journey is one of heartbreak and resilience.

After rescuing him from the streets, I provided him with stability—a good job, a place to call his own—hoping to guide him back to a semblance of normalcy. For two precious years, he embraced this second chance at life, only for cancer to mercilessly snatch him away forever.

In tribute to my brother’s memory, I penned a poem, endeavoring to capture the tumult of emotions he must have experienced in his final days on earth, before cancer cruelly claimed him.

Drawing inspiration from Jan’s own artistic prowess. I always admired his ability to paint anything.

I sought to convey the depth of his inner turmoil through his expression. While my initial instinct was to render the portrait in oils, my husband’s suggestion to utilize charcoal and green proved poignant, capturing the essence of his fading vitality.

Amidst his frailty, Jan’s green eyes remained a beacon of beauty, until even they succumbed to the ravages of disease. Now, as I gaze into his eyes immortalized in my artwork, I grapple with the timeless question: is there truly life beyond death? Each day, I search for solace in the possibility of an eternal existence, longing for a glimpse of my brother’s spirit amidst the uncertainty.