Balloons and Brothers

(Remembering my younger brother)

A gust of wind whipped my balloon,

on string tucked in my hand it tugged.

My fingers felt the final slip,

I held on tight but lost my grip,

I watched aghast it sailed away.

I've not forgotten that day when

my young voice strained and screamed out loud.

My loss etched deep, a child's despair

as floating red, reclaimed by air,

my smile replaced by blue dismay.

 

I search this morning's pink streaked sky

recall our childhood you and I.

As sun wakes up to warm my soul,

my sorrow breaks, I'm far from whole,

those thoughts of you bleed through and often.

Grief bites hard, yet time can soften.

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Chris, I can identify with this one. While I am an only child, I spent most of my childhood with my cousin. When someone you have shared so much with is gone, it seems as though the memories get blurry. The honest emotion in this poem resonated with me. The rhythm and rhyme of your lines makes for a lovely flow. May the memory of your brother always be a blessing to you. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lydi** I appreciate your share here. Your review is encouraging and your thoughts kind. read moreThank you Lydi** I appreciate your share here. Your review is encouraging and your thoughts kind.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

Chris I had to read this write more than once because I got loss in thought of memories of my own I don't think One can forget the love of someone so dear, this write touches my heart.
Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mauricio, thank you so much for your heartfelt review. I’m pleased my words reached out to you. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

You have an amazing way with words.
Excellent write.

[Lara]

I've lost a brother.
Your poem, Chris, both steals away yet returns my own balloon... A deft write on familial grief weighed against sibling love and the buoyancy of childhood shared. 🩵

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Lara. Sorry for your loss. Eleven years gone now, the grief softens but ….
read moreThank you so much Lara. Sorry for your loss. Eleven years gone now, the grief softens but ….

Chris

[RomaJ]

This is so beautiful, Chris. Your poem truly moved me. The way you captured that moment with the balloon. The tug, the slip, the sudden strike of grief; is so vivid and heartfelt. I wrote Marigold Sky after the death of my own child, who we only had a few moments with as an infant, and your poem brought back that same sense of fleeting, precious time...how grief and love shift but never disappear.

Balloons and Brothers reminds me so much of Marigold Sky in how it holds sorrow and tenderness together. Thank you for sharing something so deeply personal and beautiful.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you RomaJ. I was hoping you would call on this one. You have really given me a lift with your lovely review. I appreciate very much your thoughts.

Chris

[Farjana Shah Chaity]

The way you blend memories of loss with the sunrise of hope reflects the resilience of the human spirit. Your words resonate powerfully, reminding us that while grief may linger, time can gradually mend our wounds ~ chaity

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you chaity. I appreciate very much your thoughts and your visit. Welcome to my page and thank you for the friend request.

Chris

[Farjana Shah Chaity]

always....my pleasure

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

The experience of losing something so dear to us �™�⁠‿⁠�™�

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. All the best.

Chris

[NormaZ]

I love the metaphor of the ballon, so hard to let go. Knowing that in time grief will hurt less, but right now, that doesn’t help to ease the pain. Lovely poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Norma for your kind words. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[ProphetsMother]

You pulled up a good memory for me about signs you see in life and God trying to show you glimmers of hope. Every old person I've talked to never felt their age so they never really grew old. It's nice when you don't lose your spark I like it

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your visit to my oage and for sharing your thoughts. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Patricia]

very well done! great flow, rhythm and rhyme, love the poetic ride through memory lane.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Patricia for your encouraging review. Have a great day.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

I don't think grief ever goes away Chris, especially on days like this when all those memories come flooding back.
A quiet day for you then .... a day of love and reflection ♥

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Stella. Anniversaries can be difficult. It was on the 12th but have been very busy. Remembered to post today. He is never that far away:)

Chris

[Stella Armour]

i never had siblings , so i can't pretend to know how sad you must be feeling .
But sending you a ((hug)) and love today ..

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, thank you Stella. I was blessed with two sisters and two brothers. We have always been very close. The loss of a sibling can be devastating, but having them has been the richest of all blessings:) I have never been lonely.

[Stella Armour]

......................♥