You grew up in singing fields
Early sunrise, blinking bleary,
Brothers boisterous, sister odd,
Breaking the rules as you ran carefree,
Learning from the world,
Surrounded by ancient tea leaves watching over their own young.
You grew up without ambition.
You knew much, but kept it hidden.
Quiet, gentle brow as you helped others along
While they pushed you and controlled you
As long as you held your tongue.
You grew up and married, and she was loud
You loved each other,
She taught you to be proud.
You grew around each other
Rough brown fingers curled around a cigarette
On the sidewalk after you shopped for her medicine.
Decades later, in the early night,
She cried and struggled,
And then made no more sound.
You grew up among loud forces
Now the silence echoes off beige walls
Your one bad ear mocks the other,
The only victim of the deafening hush.
Now, your arms tremble under heavy grocery bags
And your legs ache as you stop for breath
Your glasses give you trouble
That cough has gotten worse
A tremor runs through your muscles
As you wrap old arms around me
When I visit
I make it a point to quiet down.
I’ve been told I am too loud.
—–
Daily Prompt: Tremble
February 7, 2017 at 5:11 pm
nice meaningful piece…
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February 7, 2017 at 5:16 pm
Thank you. And thanks for reading. 🙂
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February 7, 2017 at 5:17 pm
my pleasure….
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