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

[Scott Kris]

I don’t know if you lost a brother or lost a relationship with him.

I felt this poetry. My brother is a stranger to me now. The wounds are deep and the transgressions severe.

I don’t feel I will ever feel the joy of my “little red balloon” or see it floating in my skies ever in this lifetime.

Wow…. Got me teary eyed today.

With care,

Scott.

[Chris Shaw]

Sorry to hear about your brother being a stranger you. Sad to hear that Scott. This poem can be interpreted any way the reader wishes. That's what I love about poetry. For me, I lost a brother to cancer and he is still greatly missed eight years later. I thank you so much for your review.

Chris

[willweb]

I know the saying; time heals all wounds, but I don't believe time can heal them completely and that is probably a good thing. Without memories of ones we have lost, what would we have of them. And yes, sadness does come in the form of memories but so does joy. For not ever having known the person would be worse in my opinion. Your poem really touches my heart though and I really have no authority to speak on this subject because, this loss that you express, I have not felt. Yes, I have lost people in my life but not at an early age or "before their time". But I can still feel and your poem brings that feeling to me. Really nice Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Dear will, thank you so much for your visit and sharing your thoughts about my poem. I am encouraged by your words and pleased that you stopped by. Have a good Sunday.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Hi Chris,
The main issue as I see it is the fact that as we grow older and older our memories seem to invade our days.. I really do suffer with this because so many of my memories are sad ones.. My husband, a Ph.D. Psychologist says that what we remember are the bad times and the good times..The times that had an impact on our lives...
I could feel your grief of losing that red balloon.. Interesting that the minute I read RED I immediately say that balloon in the blue sky.
Really did so enjoy this read dear Chris... so well written
Although so sad to have lost your brother... I feel that the balloon is a metaphor for the loss of you dear brother..
Lisa

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Lisa, interesting to hear what your husband says about memories. Yes I agree. There is much middle ground which doesn't get much attention. Pleased you enjoyed the read. Hope all is good with you. I have had a busy week and not much time for WC. I need to get more focused on my poetry :) Have a good Sunday.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Oh gosh, I too need to get more focused on writing...but right now I am in arts and craft fairs... Oh so very different than the USA..
I need to forget about it and just do piano, painting and writing...not necessarily in that order.
Where in England are you?
My mother was born in Manchester..

[redd Brick Keshner]

This was too painful to read so I hadn't til this moment. The image of the child's balloon being torn away from their grasp only painted too well what happened when they lost their sibling. And the bite of grief is hard that it stains and mars and wounds yet again, the bruising and the scarring shall remain. Oh dear. But time does whittle away the rough edges and the abrasion smoothens. Thanks Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Freds, eight years ago. The grief has softened. The love grows stronger. Yes, it was raw on the day I wrote this. An old poem out for a breath of fresh air. Have a good Wednesday.

Chris

[redd Brick Keshner]

After reading that again I had hoped in the first lines that brother would swoop in and save the day then realised he was the balloon that was swept away. Now it adds to the bouquet of balloons that keep growing each day. Hope that comment doesn’t bring anyone down, Chris.
Freds

[Chris Shaw]

Forgive me Freds, not quite sure what you mean but I thank you for stopping by to read this old poem again. Anniversaries are still sore.

[redd Brick Keshner]

That would be so. Hope all is well with you, Chris 🕊️🙏🏻

[Chris Shaw]

Fair, can’t ask for more than that, hope all is improving for you Freds. Thank you for asking.

[redd Brick Keshner]

Oh, I meant a revisit gave me a different impression, my mind/heart hoping the balloon was saved by your brother thus sparing you the tears but as I read on it felt like the red balloon 🎈 flying off was a metaphor of the brother himself. Btw, Chris, the hallway split should be fixed now. At least I hope so. As for improving, well, we can only hope. I’m hanging in there, trying to. 🕊️🙏🏻
Freds.

[Chris Shaw]

Now I see Freds:) It’s very late here, I should be sleeping, head’s not quite with it. Just visited your latest poem again. Hang in there, wishing you the very best. Take care.

[redd Brick Keshner]

Thank you, Chris 🕊️🙏🏻

[Soren]

What a beautiful metaphor of a lost relationship. We are all still childlike emotionally and carelessness can lead to pain registered in our memories. Such a nice write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Soren. I truly appreciate your visit and review. All the best.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Hi, Chris,

I don't know how I did not see this offering before. It is so musical and well-crafted and tugs the heart strings just hard enough.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Winston. An old poem out for a breath of air while my muse has gone awol. So pleased you called.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

time can soften. a joyous end to a hard hitting memory. Grief, as you know Chris, is a hard pebble. Its first pinch into the flesh hurts like hell, then as time shifts it fades by increments, but at odd times gives a hard pinch to remind of the loss. You capture all that so well here. Glad to be back reading.

hope all well

ken

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Ken. All is well apart from my muse going awol. Such an inconsiderate cow she can be:) Pleased you stopped by to give this old poem your thoughts. You are appreciated. Hope all is well with you.

Chris

[JE Falcon]

Such a nice poem, warm but sort of sad.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Falcon. Pleased for your visit and your review.

Chris

[Carola]

a well-penned poem, chris.
though very sad for you to lose a brother & so young too, 7 years old!
there is nothing that one can say to ease grief & everyone deals with it in a different way.
cheerio carola

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Carola your encouragement so much appreciated. This was written on the anniversary of my brother's death, he didn't die at seven. He lived till he was 61

[Carola]

oops! my misreading.

[Chris Shaw]

I was lucky enough to have him around for 61 years. He survived a liver transplant, it gave him an additional three years. Really miss him Carola. Thank you.

[andrew mitchell]

Yes I’ve lost a balloon as a child only to see many others lost to the sky and I wondered how the other poor kids coped with the heart break. Nice one Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Andrew. That lost balloon as a kid, was my first sense of loss. There have been many since. Really appreciate your visit.

Chris