when I was old enough to walk
my brother home from school,
mom gave me a keychain with a star

above the name and ‘Noble Leader’
blazing below. the brass it brandished
over years gnawed at its red and white,

still the medal shines. though not
as pristine today, you can see the key
belongs to me. you may need to hold it

further away, others will squint to read
the depiction under my name, one
my mother hoped her son would be.