Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Brothertime


Stretched out on the grass
looking up at the stars,
hands tucked behind their heads,
feet crossed at the ankles, bellies full--
fat for the sacrifice
of what lurks, stalks them
in the dark: werewolves, zombies, orcs . . .

While dragons skitter-fly by
on iridescent wings
they craft stories
from far away worlds
to see which of them
can scare the others most.

A fir wood fire crackles in the pit.
Marshmallow bits stick to their lips.

Can I have your room when you move out?”

Laughing, with brave faces,
their eyes in firelight reflect the wonder
of what it will be like to be the first to leave,
be the ones left behind.

A large spark darts skyward
splitting unspoken thoughts
and they turn back to stories of goblins, of ghosts,
on this warm night in brothertime,
shaking off the growing chill
of jitters a bit more real.



© 2015 Jennifer Wagner


For dVerse Poetics: Brothers/Brotherhood. Hope you come and join in the fun!

24 comments:

  1. I like the way your poem showed the family relationship here - the camaraderie, the stories, the reflectiveness, the laughter. And the very real concern about what it will be like to be the first or last to leave.

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  2. A lovely moment of brotherhood, Jennifer ~ The stories shared, scary & imaginative as dragons skitter-fly, form a bond that last beyond the first of many goodbyes & reunions ~

    Thanks for this amazing theme ~

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  3. What a moment to share, I can clearly feel what I have missed in brotherhood. Though I managed to be scared all by myself (or scare my sister). Wonderful theme and challenging for me to write.

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  4. Poised on the bring of adulthood - such a difficult moment, captured so poignantly. And with a shade of the practical (can I have your room) - it made me laugh and sigh in one.

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  5. LOL... loved the question which comes way too often

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  6. Such an intimate look into a family - what a wonderful moment to share among themselves. Hayes Spencer is Kanzensakura

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  7. My goodness, four sons & no brothers--we just never know what the universe has in store for us. This is a lovely, touching, personal glimpse into parenthood, motherhood, & brotherhood. I left home first, but then I was eldest; so there it is. So nice to make your acquaintance, Jen, hope to see more of you around the Pub, where some of the finest word smiths in the world gather.

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    Replies
    1. I'm almost there...no brothers (3 sisters, though), and I've got 3 sons.

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  8. I love how this piece captures those little moments with big impact... and how things change once adulthood hits.

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  9. You have really captured the moment, Jennifer - the laughter and the questions - and have shown the love these brothers have for each other.

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  10. Oh Jennifer - what a moment captured of your boys. The lines are filled with such love - particularly like the dragon and the marshmallow bits. Wonderful!

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  11. While dragons skitter-fly by
    on iridescent wings
    they craft stories
    from far away worlds
    to see which of them
    can scare the others most.

    A beautiful painting you have in here - I remembered a few things about my childhood. It was nice to write for your prompt, Jennifer.

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  12. Oh, I bet you get to listen in on many similar conversations. I like how, as a mother, you get to know their true fears. What a lovely poem Jennifer. I can just see those boys right now.

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  13. That spark is a perfect interruption of brothers...a moment of silent self-reflection before brothers get back to the task at hand...of being brothers. Also love the "skitter-fly" description of dragons. Heck...love the whole thing!! :-)

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  14. wow...this was really cool read. I could picture the two of them, as well as all the made-up creatures surrounding.

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  15. the reality in between the dream world made me smile...so lovingly touching...

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  16. sigh. tonight, for the first time, my 16 year permitted son drove us from my house, to his mother's (brother in the back seat). I didn't faint or soil my pants, even once. :) and his brother kept silent. perhaps from fear of distraction, but hey, it was good ~

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  17. Ha! That first stanza turned sharp very quick and set the tone! Very good stuff

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  18. nice - your prompt has delivered some very intense writing Jennifer.

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  19. A realistic and captivating portrait of brothers here. I suspect the growing chill of jitters is even more real for their mom.

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  20. I loved the visuals in this, but my favourite line is "on this warm night in brothertime". It truly is a unique and sacred bond, worthy of it's own special word!

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  21. Wow! What an amazing canvas you paint to portray intrinsically complicated relationships. J... You are brilliant :)

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  22. So touching - I have 3 boys and this lovely sketch that you're penned so tenderly really resonated with me. I think your decision to set it against the timeless and symbolically loaded "bonding" campfire was inspired. A beautifully drawn, sensitive bit of writing, Jennifer!

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Thank you for your thoughts!