08 August 2010

Broken String

Clash played on the stereo,
teenage wreck party long ago.
He sat, girl in lap, laughing
as I mouthed the words.

Coolness was his light,
Basking in it, my lot.
Heard him saying
"That's my brother"

Affection just made it
through the buzz blanket
wrapped around my head:
In that moment, I belonged.

Clash on the stereo tonight
all guitars and sneers
and me mouthing the words
to his picture in my head

No beer tonight, too pathetic,
Besides I want the clear memory
of him unvarnished, unaltered,
of that guitar in his hands

Mouthing the words again,
theater of the mind lit
by his crooked grin and
woodpecker laugh.

I know the songs,
"Know Your Rights" with guitar!
and by all rights, my brother,
you should be here

Touched by madness,
Loved by gods and mortals,
a vibrant broken string
uncoils in my heart.

In memory of my Big Bro.

9 comments:

  1. You know he's still saying it Kevin...."that's my brother"

    He sees you shine, now.
    Sing out loud. You know the words.

    Rene

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  2. A wonderful tribute to your brother.

    Do you have a woodpecker laugh too? Sometimes brothers have the same laugh.

    Di

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  3. Very cool. I love this. It speaks volumes about your love for him, and you express it so beautifully.

    Reminds me of my sister, now gone, who was a singer in a band. She shined on stage and would always point me out to people, "That's my sister, Kimmie." :-( Sometimes she would say, That's my OLDER sister, Kimmie, and then she'd get in trouble...

    I miss her all the time.

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  4. That rock'n'roll string....still played with all the passion in the world. He's inspired you to write so many a great piece..

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  5. Loved this. Was right there with you. Sorry that he was not.

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  6. I know that you miss him. Wish that he was still with you.

    ReplyDelete

"Let your laws come undone
Don't suffer your crimes
Let the love in your heart take control..."


-'The Hair Song', by Black Mountain

Tell me what is in your heart...