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

[Vertigo Cat1111]

This felt like I was actually seeing it! The bright balloons, the emotions, all of it. The hurt of losing a loved one does soften over time, but sometimes it doesn’t for everyone. It’s a sweet but sad poem, and an amazingly refreshing piece!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Colacat. Time does soften, but the missing is always there.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

loss of loved ones remains forever but it does soften .. felt and saw every bit of your setting and scene .. clever use of the red and blue says i! who hasn't felt that terror of loosing their red balloon to the wind .. we are told "Now hold tight or you'll loose it" ... but what child can focus that long ... you've given us a reminder of how love loss and grief works .. but more importantly a very beautiful tribute and remembrance of you younger brother ... love you Chris!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E. I can feel the warmth across the waves. Have a lovely day :)

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

read it again Chris! It speaks to my heart.

[Chris Shaw]

Oh Mr E, you are a sweetheart. Thank you for revisiting. Means alot. Have a lovely day :)

[Betty Hermelee]

I love the structure of this poem, the rhyme and it's meaning of course; Not only have you lost the balloon, but it seems as if you are mourning the death of a close relative (maybe a sibling); and you wrote it in such a poignant way. some of the good times too. Time can certainly sooth the grief. Very lovey images.
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Betty. All the best.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re quite welcome!

[Ken Simm.]

A sweet but melancholy memory can evoke so much. People say that smell is the most evocative sense. I disagree, I think love is.
A beautiful poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken for checking in and leaving such a lovely comment.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"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."
I read your poem in my heart dear Chris. every word, image, metaphor for loss/death and emotion attached resonated deeply. Grief weighs so heavily through the years and you express it profoundly. You have written your beloved younger brother a beautiful tribute here from title forward. Balloons flying upward, yes. I am so very sorry for your loss my friend.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Annette, thank you so much for your thoughtful review. Very much appreciated.

Chris

[sharonlee]

A poignancy woven into your poetic lines which touches me deeply.
Loss and grief do soften with time, however we remain forever changed due to the impact.

Feeling this on many levels.

Sharonlee

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous Sharonlee for your understanding. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Balloons are prayers that linger in our heart where shadows of smiles depart. Children and young people climb mountains where dreams are envisioned ... the view is breathtaking... Our Spirits are mysterious and raindrops sing 🎶 when we breathe. truly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pat, I have just completed a poem about mountaineers and their struggles to reach the summit. I will be posting it later. Thank you for your poetic jewels. They are always a gift to me :)

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris... I adore Serendipity... Your gentle touch is a lullaby where Angels fly. Looking forward to your Inspiration. Back to sleep for a couple hours.... while the Moon beams Dream... tenderly, Pat

[Gee]

So hard to process the death of a loved one when they are taken to early.
With mum I was more than ready to release the string that kept her nearby but always unwell. Saying that I would gladly hold it for another day given the opportunity:))
A quite lovely piece, sad too.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Gee. Very close to him. Only a year separated us. Your review touched me.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

as you are only too aware, family is never forgotten and time, as ineffective as it may seem to be, does eventually at least soften, to whatever degree.
We lost a young child and I've never forgotten his smile.

[Chris Shaw]

Dave, you just brought tears to my eyes. I am so sorry for the loss of your son. Thank you for sharing that with me.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

I was introduced to difficult emotions as an elementary schooler when my best friend came down with something, and his parents, of a well known religious denomination, would not take him for medical attention, instead relying on the power of prayer with tragic results
It seems time does its share to help out with all these difficult issues that so many go through
Be good

[Chris Shaw]

A tragic situation when religion comes before science :( Poor little boy.

[John the Baptist]

Grief can insert itself years after the loss which occasioned it. Here the speaker is viewing a morning sky made more beautiful by the pink streaks of the sun. Still, it summons the memory of a painful loss from years past. While we understand life includes its losses, it is still hard sometimes to come to terms with them.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, some deaths impact you more than others. Thank you John.

Chris