we sleep above the roots
our legs knotted
our hands folded
beneath us
listening for the weeds to rinse
from our ears all
the twitches of the road
we have seen all there is,
you say,
and we will eat
what first must be blessed —
old hamburger meat
and flour tortillas from torn plastic bags
behind Trader Joe’s,
a feast for boys who first learned how to crawl
on a dirt kitchen floor
these things we must see
these things we must know:
these fallow graveyards the shape of oceans
these gravel pits filled with factory-defective coffins
with cracked lids and split silk liners —
deep discounts
for the dead on a budget
i see you run towards me in your sock feet your
leathered arms pumping
as if you were still a
child
as if I had the strength
to catch you in my arms
do you remember the
summery brine of sweat and rain
that dribbled down our faces
when we were boys
and did not think to be men
until much later
she has her chores, you said,
and I am one of them
brother Caius
you have become my chore now,
and I have become yours
Beautiful and evocative as always, Steven. Such elegant writing and strong imagery.
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Thank you, Diana. Sometimes the imagery just walks in the door like it lives there. 🙂
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Nice!
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🙂
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Isn’t it wonderful when that happens? We must take care to leave the door unlocked.
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That’s so true. Thank you, Liz. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Steven.
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To be a child still ignorant of what growing up really means — those were the days. Or not? In any case, your poetry always touches my heart.
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And that means a lot to me. I’ve been retracing my steps lately, back to those days, and sometimes I do wonder how I got here, to this place, to this time. Thank you again for your kind words. 🙂
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I wish I could go back and do corrections here and there.
Always a pleasure!
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Me too. 🙂
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I love this one. I see the dirt on little kids’ exploring hands, the sweat, the feel of time passing, even.
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Thank you. 🙂
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Yes!
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Gritty and realistic as well as a show of love and warmth, Steven. This piece has everything. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Yes, it does. The story of two lives inextribably linked, told in a just a few lines.
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Thank so much, Suzanne. 🙂
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You’re most welcome, Steven. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Beautifully penned!
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Thank you. 🙂
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From the first line this is absolute brilliance!!!
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Thanks so much, Susan. I appreciate the kindness. 🙂
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Stunning piece of writing.
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Thank you. Much appreciated. 🙂
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