Tag: Family

Change is Inevitable

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, PoetryLeave a comment 
It’s been about five and a half years now since my wife and I moved from the wilds of Montana to the slightly less wilds of the Missouri Ozarks. I have to say, there have been many changes to our humble abode through those years. Like removing the 18’ by 32’ swimming pool from the side yard. Which I still have a giant hole in the ground that I use to fill up with spring and after storm cleanup debris. The addition of a 24 x 12 foot Gazebo in the back yard, remodeled kitchen, converting the screened in back porch into a usable living space, turning half  the garage space into a working office and more. Even after all these projects, it seems like my work is never finished. But that’s life. As they say, it’s not over until it’s over.
with each step forward
the world around us will change
for better or worse

Please Stay With Me

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Poetry, Rhyming1 Comment

She stared at the pictures and all,
the memories came rushing in.
She knows these faces of children,
and remembers her life again.

Once again she heard their laughter,
like before her life fell apart.
A tear of joy streaked her soft cheek,
as she felt their love fill her heart.

It is all the warmth she can feel,
as her grandchildren hug her deep.
The light on their face as they smiled,
these memories she vows to keep.

A light twinkles in her grey eyes,
a gentle smile slips ‘cross her face.
For just a few moments she is,
back in her family’s embrace.

The light begins to peel away,
her mind fades back to submission.
Please stay she begs, to no avail,
cause her memories won’t listen.

~The Particulars of the Privy

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, Poetry1 Comment 
The family outhouse wasn't just thrown together willy-nilly. Oh, no. It was an object of pride. A showcase of engineering and ingenuity and a symbol of prosperity. There was a true science used in the construction of 'the throne'. 
It had to be built using only the best quality lumber. Generally, with 2" x 6" floor joist, cedar walls if possible but most likely just good white pine. Usually, the roof was just wood, but a fancy privy could have shingles and the la-ti-da privy might have had a tin roof. The roof slanted away from the side with the door towards the back to allow maximum rain roll-off. Also, you needed less height to sit on the crapper bench than you needed to drop your long-johns.
A standard structure was about 6 feet wide x 5 feet deep with the roof measuring approximately 8 feet tall at the highest point. Of course, those measurements would depend on whether it was your simple one-holer design or the more elaborate two-seater. A good coat of white paint would definitely set yours off from the neighbors and become the envy of the whole county. Don't make the door fit too tightly and remember to cut a crescent moon shape in it for proper ventilation and the only source of light.
A good supply of Montgomery Ward or Sears catalogs and a fly swatter were luxuries fit for the queen.
the important things 
will often go unnoticed—
until you need them

***To You She is Mother***

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, PoetryLeave a comment

bringer of life,

giver of love,

sculptor of minds,

painter of dreams,

the calmer,

the soother, the rock…

Holding you through the tears

of mistakes done,

when dreams won’t come,

when milestones are won.

Inspiring you to begin,

to reach the end,

and then start again,

flying higher,

going farther,

moving faster…

She cherishes you,

holds you,

knows you,

at times scolds you,

but you know she will always,

love you…

She is your

unyielding,

invulnerable protector…

Yes,

To you she is mother.

To me…

She is fierce,

soft,

gentle,

lover,

fighter.

inspiration,

imagination,

stimulation,

motivation,

admiration,

rolled into one package…

In that package, a brain,

brilliant,

calculating,

supportive,

unselfish,

forgiving…

In that package, a heart,

caring,

sharing,

loving,

generous

compassionate,

tender,

affectionate,

supportive,

romantic…

In that package, a soul,

the spirit of

an angel’s grace,

where evil,

has no place,

and even the saints would cry tears,

over her purity…

In that package, her hands,

a touch that can,

calm the rage,

that boils inside of me,

exposing my insanity,

steering me.

from the brink of,

catastrophe…

In that package, her arms,

that wrap around me,

bringing harmony,

peace,

contentment,

love,

reality…

To you she is mother…

to the world she is my wife…

to me she is,

my life…

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.