Reflection on Father's day

[indar]

We drove to the back country,
my brother's place,
traditional father's day barbeque.
He relocated there last year
after our mother died
and his son drank himself to death:
maybe suicide,
we don't know.

This was my brother's first,
motherless, childless.
I still have one daughter left
of the three I birthed.

My brother's house is surrounded
by live oaks.
We sat on the deck
six feet apart in the shade
and talked about the mouse invasion
he is fighting
and those good old rock bands
from the seventies. 

 

 

[murmac]

.

[Dave]

This is a simple reflective piece that allows the reader to fill in the spaces. It is melancholic but never maudlin and provides a gentle canvas for considering life and death, sharing and separation and all the different lives that may be led even within one family.
Thanks

[Mark]

Dave said it well. I've read this several times and despite the geographical, cultural and familial divide can easily find myself there, a survivor, talking about mice and rock legends.  

[indar]

Thank you both Dave and Mark. Yes, some key words: survivors, separation and sharing. 

[Gyppo]

I easily pictured myself and my Sis in this poem.  We're not 'huggy', but we're close.  So much in common, so much shared history, and a countless times when a shared nod or a raised eyebrow says all we need to say.

Gyppo

[ajduclos]

Ah Gyppo - this is so sweet and melancholy, yet joyful, tender and warmly telling it as it is.  Allows the reader to easily immerse into the moment and the scene, and reflect.  Yes, the wonder of family, few words needed.
Aj 

[ajduclos]

Ok - I'm definitely losing it............. Indar, my comments just above were meant for you, for your sweet and painful poem.
I got confused, I think, because of Gyppo's touching comments.
Hope you are well.
Aj

[indar]

Thank you Gyppo,

There are few, if any, who share the family history like our siblings. Sometimes its necessary to do a reality check with them: did we really go through all that? Do I remember that crazy birthday party correctly? Did dad really say all that? 

And sometime we know when not to bring up something too horribly painful--then, as you say, is the time for the slight gesture of acknowledgement and that's enough. Appreciate you comments.

Thank you AJ,

I'll bet you made the classic mistake of seeing Gyppo's name in the comment section. You are not losing it, you are a typical forum user. I appreciate all comments on my poem no matter who they were addressed to. Thanks for revisiting