For My Big Bro (Kenneth)

by CJ Maleney   May 29, 2017


When we were growing up together,
Sometimes you were a git.
I still remember that split ear,
Because I wouldn't share my sweets.

You buggered off with my bloody bike,
I flew at you with rage.
Your reaction swift and painful,
You shoved it in my face.

Both a little older now.
And that fight within my room,
I felt that I was loosing,
So a smashed you with a stool.

Only two years between our births,
So we fought like dog and cat.
But whenever we went out together,
We had each others backs.

Those days down by the river,
When we all built those swings on tree's
Then going home completely smashed
We'd snuck in the brewery!

Then one day while I was working,
The cryptic phone call comes.
Phill is coming to get you,
We need to bring you home.

It shouldn't have really fell to him,
To break that awful news.
I said "well it was bound to happen"
Sat there thinking what a fool.

I last seen you in that parlour!
And I recoiled it's true.
For the person laying in that box.
Just did not look like you.

No one ever seen me cry!
I shed those tears alone,
I didn't cry at the funeral
They only leaked out once.

You would have been 47 this year,
What happened to that time?
28 years since you've been gone
But your flame still burns with mine

Today is not you birthday
So I don't know why your in my head.
I guess sometimes I still need my Bro
And that sobering punch to head.

    report violation
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Latest Comments

  • 6 years ago

    by CJ Maleney

    Oh em I totally get it, I flow so much out so fast it must be impossible to keep up, no apology necessary.

    Yeah we too had some spectacular fights. One ended up with me having stitches in my tongue.

    Another ended up with him having a skull x ray, and this is before we hit our teens. Lol

    Yeah I still feel his absence as you will yours but we continue as we must. X

  • 6 years ago

    by Em

    Craig firstly I apologise for missing, it is a beautifully? rhymed piece with so much love and raw emotions within it which makes for a really good piece.

    I am truly sorry for your loss and I know they say time heals but I completely disagree, I just feel that we get used to that person not being around but when we think about them it makes things real that they aren't here but memories of them are and they haunt us.

    I love the reminiscing of the piece and the memories as it shows your brother lives on and how close you were to him and it made me smile/laugh because it reminded me of me and my siblings my goodness I can tell some stories but the funniest one is me and my brother were having a pillow fight and he ended up knocking my tooth out lol then we have the emotional part where sadly your brother passes and my heart stopped a little and I had to take a breather as I had a brother (older than me) who was really ill so I never got to meet him and though I have my sisters and brother I often wonder whether life would be different with him here and it sounds daft but it feels as though I'm grieving for someone I never met.

    Anyway no more rambling this is so well done.

    Much love,
    Em

  • 6 years ago

    by Meena Krish

    Siblings what would we do without them. Its nice to have them
    around to watch over us, fight with us and do naughty things together
    rather then be a single child and not know what that love is all about.

    A moving write which has good and bad days, fights and laughter
    and the loss of someone who was very dear to you and without realizing
    they just pop into your memory just like that for no reason...touching write,
    take care~

  • 6 years ago

    by mossgirl19

    This was a touching piece, Craig. My siblings and I are all two years apart by birth and we have a very close bond. Your brother's memory will live on.

  • 6 years ago

    by Lvi

    This touched me at so many levels.

    Your piece brought forth emotions that were hidden deep down.

    Thank you for sharing.

    • 6 years ago

      by CJ Maleney

      Emotions are always there. You can try to lock em away or sink them to the depths. Locks can be unpicked and it's surprising how many things will eventually float back up.

      I read some things on here that twitch so much that I can't reply as I normally would. So sometimes I reply with a little poem because everyday language fails me.

      Sometimes though! Ya just gotta let stuff float.

      Craig

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