Sleeping Alone

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, PoetryLeave a comment

even in a crowd one can still find solitude—silence is overrated

My children got me a subscription to a service called Storyworth. It sends me a weekly prompt, usually something about my childhood, to help get those creative juices flowing. Of course, the end result will hopefully be to produce a kind of diary that might leave some small insight into who I was back in the day.

One of those prompts read, “when you were a child, did you have to share a bedroom and possibly a bed with your siblings?”

Wait a doggone second guys. Do you mean to tell me that sleeping alone when you were a child is a real thing? Man, when I was growing up back in Wakenda, I recall the biggest house we ever lived in had four bedrooms. I know that a four-bedroom house might sound like a mansion but when you throw in the fact that there were more kids than you could count without using your toes, plus mom and dad, that sure didn’t leave much space.

Heck, even after I joined the Army, depending on where I was stationed, I had to share a bedroom with 4 to 12 other people. Then I got married and spent each night of my life sharing a bed.

After all those years, I’m not sure I could sleep a whole night without the sound of snoring and an occasional fart drifting out from under the covers.

Been Gone Too Long

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Uncategorized1 Comment

One might assume, that my extended absence could be taken as a sign of a wonderful vacation. Perhaps a global adventure across continents or a trek of solitude high upon a mountain path. Maybe a quiet dip into the foamy waves of an exotic ocean or even an inspirational sabbatical to a Tibetan monastery.

For those with a more pessimistic mindset and are always looking for some doom and gloom, perhaps something with a little more drama. Like being incarcerated for some nefarious crime or better yet, on my death bed doing battle with the Devil for my eternal soul.

I am quite sad to report that the answer is NO to the first paragraph but very happy to give a resounding NO to the second.

In truth I have been happily crawling around in the tilled soil of my back yard in an attempt to call myself a gardener. Though my plants would most assuredly disagree, the wonderful crop of weeds and crab grass are singing my praises. However, I did manage to collect enough tomatoes, peppers, onions and green beans to satisfy my ego and to give me enough inspiration to attempt it all again next year.

I must admit that I had lost interest in pen and paper. But the nostalgia of visiting with family and friends over this past holiday season, combined with spending these last few days in my recliner with TV remote in hand binge watching “The Waltons”, has sparked my inspiration once again.

With a brand-new year ready to begin, my first official resolution—one among many—is to return to the blogging world. So, I want to say thank you in advance to what I hope will become a great friendship.

No Regrets – Poor Man’s Steak

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Poetry2 Comments

Together, my parents faced two world wars, the great depression, floods, fires, and some things that would bring most people to their knees. Imagine just where I would be if they had just decided that things were too rough and chucked in the towel. At the time, I didn’t think they had a lot to give.
But looking back, I’m amazed at how much I got.

steak’s what I wanted
bologna is what I got—
never went hungry

~A Thump on the Head / No Regrets~

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, PoetryLeave a comment

In times of impending demise, in your mind, you might see your life being replayed. Sometimes it’s in fast forward, sometimes in slow motion, sometimes both at once. Life flashes in random order, constantly cycling in and out like an out-of-control tilt-a-whirl at the county fair. You’d think that with all those moments stuck on a playback loop that one would walk away with perfect recall of all the events. Not true. You can remember things like the first time you pooped in your diaper and that piece of Bazooka Joe bubble gum you pocketed when you were ten years old. Every detail, no matter how small or insignificant will come flooding back. But what the heck just went down—draws a complete blank.

when death feels certain,
life flashes by in seconds—
don’t regret the show

~What’s Yet to Come~

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, PoetryLeave a comment

I can’t believe
how things have changed
yet so much has remained
exactly the same

It’s been four years but…
I look at the headlines
and wonder if we’ve fallen
through a time warp
or a hole in the floor
or been smacked on the head
by a one way door

What the hell happened to
the last four years
or four decades for that matter

progress has been
stripped away
in a matter of days
to make a new way
for us to pay

crack out the bullwhips
and light up the crosses
round them up
put them in chains
and send them off
on airplanes

and forget they
ever had names