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serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

0 posted 2003-02-05 04:59 PM

Tim showed up here just yesterday
and he was proud he had a pass--
He even called the attendants
and I had to tell them he was fine.
"Yes."
(oh yes)
I would make sure
that he would check in by nine...
"Yes."
(oh yes)
I was assured.
Brother Tim received his meds.
"But--" I heard him hesitate--
"Tim's been quite upset."
It seems his pastor had just died...
I did not bother to correct.
"Yes, I know." I simply said.
"His pastor was my brother."

No condolences were coming--
just make sure Tim got 'home' fine.
"Of course," I thought,
"why would I not?"
Nine was medication time.

I put the phone back on the wall
and told Tim "Have a seat."
Already crying big man tears
he smiled and took the captain's chair.
His voice broke emotion's peace
as he confessed to me:
"I have no other place to grieve."
I nodded and replied, "I know."
I made a pot of coffee then
and gave him the remote control.

I never know when big Tim shows--
how long he plans to hang around.
But after he escaped his keep
from the halfway house last week
I always checked with orderlies--
just to put their minds at ease.
"Let's just humor them" I said.
Tim nodded in conspiracy.

I smiled at Tim and said, "Look here."
I pulled a Bible from the shelf.
A special print of the King James,
the type was large and printed bold.
Then I searched his eyes and asked
as gently as our grief allowed.
"Do you remember this, my friend?"
He sobbed as I said,
"It's yours now..."

This Bible was a special gift
a promise of the heart from Tim.
He'd given this to his dear friend--
a quiet present for Christmas--
noticing my brother squint
when they'd discuss the gospel truth.
He never mentioned the large print--
the gift was wrapped in dignity
the silences of men will speak
so much more than words.

Then Tim keened an anguished howl
and held his forehead in his hand.
"There's no one left who knows The Word--
nobody who can understand..."
He wiped his eyes and cleared his throat
and told me that my brother died
saved by Jesus on the cross--
and said my brother had been kind...
I didn't say a word but smiled
sure now, Tim had lost his mind.

I remembered their debates--
punctuated by their fists
on my brother's kitchen table
red-faced, they were both convinced
the other was an idiot--
oh yeah, they spread The Word.
I know I always left assured
that all New Orleans had just heard--
but passion was their play.

Silently he held the book.
He rifled pages absently.
Then The Word fell passively
from his hands onto my floor
and opened as an augury
to the family page of Death.

In my brother's intense script
was my father's name.
Just below
the loyal son
penned in my own pain:

Keith D. Hood
it was so plain--
we knew we could not argue fact.
Tim and I
met with eyes.
Tim said to me,
"I should get back."

"There's this show I like to watch."
He handed me the Hand of God.
I took from him remote control
he muttered something about a pill
that seemed to give him happy dreams
and how tonight he'd swallow it
instead of tonguing it in cheek.
Then he looked at me and winked--
destination--tv screen--
'home'...
to watch "Smallville."

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2003-02-05 05:04 PM

I'll be back.

GG
Member Elite

since 2002-12-03

Posts 3532
Lost in thought

2 posted 2003-02-05 05:14 PM

kept my attention the whole way through. I could picture the whole thing so well, and it was fascinating, painful, and made me smile a few times too.
Love the poem, and hope you're doing ok.

Always, Alyssa

- And so it was that time stood still -
(blink, breathe, stand, fight)

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

3 posted 2003-02-05 05:26 PM

I found pain, worry, relief resignation and a bit of irony in your words.
Well done. Joyce

Cpat Hair

Member Patricius

since 2001-06-05

Posts 11793

4 posted 2003-02-05 05:38 PM

what part is missing here? I see nothing of you that is not touched in this telling.

sorry..but I have to keep this one... too much in it not to.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

5 posted 2003-02-05 07:13 PM

There is something more here..can't put my finger on it or express it..
Going to library this and come back for another read later...
Excellent write Ser.
~Hugs~

~Time has cast a spell on you,
So you won't ever forget me~

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

6 posted 2003-02-05 08:07 PM

I smiled at Tim and said, "Look here."
I pulled a Bible from the shelf.
A special print of the King James,
the type was large and printed bold.
Then I searched his eyes and asked
as gently as our grief allowed.
"Do you remember this, my friend?"
He sobbed as I said,
"It's yours now..."

This Bible was a special gift
a promise of the heart from Tim.
He'd given this to his dear friend--
a quiet present for Christmas--
noticing my brother squint
when they'd discuss the gospel truth.
He never mentioned the large print--
the gift was wrapped in dignity
the silences of men will speak
so much more than words.

Then Tim keened an anguished howl
and held his forehead in his hand.
"There's no one left who knows The Word--
nobody who can understand..."
He wiped his eyes and cleared his throat
and told me that my brother died
saved by Jesus on the cross--
and said my brother had been kind...
I didn't say a word but smiled
sure now, Tim had lost his mind.
======================================

Silently he held the book.
He rifled pages absently.
Then The Word fell passively
from his hands onto my floor
and opened as an augury
to the family page of Death.

In my brother's intense script
was my father's name.
Just below
the loyal son
penned in my own pain:

Keith D. Hood
it was so plain--
we knew we could not argue fact.
Tim and I
met with eyes.
Tim said to me,
"I should get back."
===============================

KA? ... I just hugged me screen...
love you me twin...

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

7 posted 2003-02-05 08:14 PM

serenity--Raw and real, full of emotional power and love...amazing really, like you.

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

8 posted 2003-02-05 08:22 PM

This touched me with a smile...the love is being passed around.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

9 posted 2003-02-05 08:37 PM

I want to thank everybody, but especially the cap.

This one was just sitting in the middle of my mental road and I didn't want to face it.

I felt funny even posting it, knowing how so many grieve...so I thank you all a bit weepily tonight. Love you all. (especially Cap Ron...)

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

10 posted 2003-02-05 09:26 PM

quote:
I remembered their debates--
punctuated by their fists
on my brother's kitchen table
red-faced, they were both convinced
the other was an idiot--
oh yeah, they spread The Word.
I know I always left assured
that all New Orleans had just heard--
but passion was their play.

Fathers, sons, go through this...

mothers, daughters, go through this...

more than we know...
Serenity, I was hit hard by all of this...
I was rendered weak...by all of this...
and I know...most of this..

Thank you.

a quiet, positive, thank you...

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-11-18

Posts 7350
the ass-end of space

11 posted 2003-02-05 09:37 PM

I'll just nod with quiet reverance. You amaze, you inspire, you pen devine

carol
Senior Member

since 2003-01-25

Posts 624
Florida USA

12 posted 2003-02-06 12:13 PM

I really liked this.

Masked Intruder

Moderator

Senior Member

since 1999-05-23

Posts 1231
Near golden sunsets

13 posted 2003-02-06 01:40 AM

strong, as ever

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

14 posted 2003-02-06 01:54 AM

Karen,
I triple what everyone above me said.
K, you out-did yourself with this one. It's just so real.

Thank you for posting this, friend...

Heart hugs to you,
Ethel

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-25

Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...

15 posted 2003-02-07 01:19 AM

Karen~
I just read your heart and it reached in and touched mine.
Big HUGS to you, my friend.
~Vicky
"...until you have read the verse on his heart,
you have not truly met the poet.
~vlraynes

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA