Shadows of Roars and Knocks

📖 You can also find all my books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX — Thomas W. Case

The door still knocks,

once a month,

Big O coming for rent.

We hand him the cash early,

because we can,

because we’re responsible.

He nods, smiles�"good old guy,

kind eyes, always steady.

My brother is in his bedroom,

lining up golf shots,

rubber balls driven into the blankets

nailed up in the corner of the room,

bouncing, counting the hours until spring.

He got in touch with the artist in him,

painting a fairway and flag onto the fabric,

a mixture of markers and paints.

I’m in mine,

pen scratching paper,

fingers tapping keys,

coffee cooling in a seasoned mug,

Mozart booming off my Van Gogh walls.

Three cats wander between us,

soft-footed witnesses to quiet routines.

Sometimes one jumps up, sits,

as if wondering

about the party that never comes.

We still go out�"AA, groceries, errands,

a concert here,

a football game there.

Surf Ballroom, Robert Cray,

quiet applause, smokin’ gun soul,

shadows of Hilton Coliseum roars,

and Stevie Ray Vaughan at the fairgrounds.

I don’t miss being crammed

together with thousands of humans.

We mowed Big O’s acreage last year,

the pond and old golf course under our hands.

He’s getting older, moved into town.

We measure time in work done,

small tasks

that fill our days.

We eat dinner together,

Friday nights at Bible study,

real fellowship

that marks our lives,

serene, well-earned.

A contrast to the knocks and laughter

and bong hits

that once belonged to our youth,

hours discussing s**t

we thought

was philosophical

and deep�"

I don’t drown

in the endless nonsense anymore.

And yet, for all the years,

we are the same and not the same:

a year and a day apart,

me writing, him swinging,

both sober, both alive,

both thinking

about nights that belonged

to friends,

to freedom,

to anything we wanted.

Sometimes he laughs,

sometimes I do,

sometimes the cats do.

And sometimes

the room is so quiet

I almost miss

all the knocks of youth.

Author's Note

I recently posted a new long-form poetry reading featuring a sneak peek from my upcoming book, Searching for Nod.

Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4sfxAFCf-I

📖 You can also find all my books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX

— Thomas W. Case

Reviews

[red93]

Nice Meditation on yr life current state Thomas - and what a contrast to the old days. But even in the old days, there is negative glamour and street credibility to be earned from plumbing the depths. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

Thanks, my friend.

[Kady R.]

Hiii Thomas!!!

I really enjoyed this poem of a normal day in the life. Sounds like a peaceful life. I enjoyed reading about the cats and how they enjoy in a laugh too!! 🤗🤗🥰🥰Here here to your writing journey!! And to those years of sobriety. Thanks for sharing.

Kady

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Much appreciated

[Kady R.]

Anytimmmeee🤗🤗🤗

[Soren]

Plain and earthy it speaks to coming from the common ground where many of us lived. It speaks from the past with the smell of newly upturned soil that has been buried for seasons laying fallow. Nicely done Thomas

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[Soren]

You are most welcome

[Desert Knave]

Love the line " s**t we thought was philosophical and deep" because holy crap did we do a lot of that same talking. Anyhow, a great read. ~Jim

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[Neville]

it feels almost a shame to mar the page with these tell tale signs of my recent presence .. but mar I must .. tho' not to leave as a trail for others to follow here .. because I'm sure that many will come .. but as a mark of my very deepest respect for you, your muse and your pen .. Neville

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend. I truly appreciate you.