First Class Gift

By John Blase | November 5, 2012 |

I’ve had several people send me photographs and ask me to write a poem around them. So far everyone’s been quite pleased. The example below is used with permission – its a picture of two brothers, one older and one quite younger, two men who sorta found each other later in life and the discovery has been a true gift. The picture was taken as they were riding a train to Cinque Terra, having gotten kicked out of first class for some hilarious reason.

What’s the charge for something like this? The low low price of $50. Send me a picture via FB with a little background info and I’ll take it from there. So far everyone is giving the picture/poem combinations as Christmas gifts, that is except the lady who sent me this one…she just couldn’t wait til then.

 
– for Terry and Marland
 
Sometimes birth order keeps brothers apart,
that and the fight to endure a harsh childhood.
They grow for long stretches of track into men
with the same eyes, the same smile, the same
smooth head, but in different cars on the train.
And sometimes that’s how the journey ends.
But sometimes the benevolent conductor sees
such men and declares mercy, arranges for them
to sit next to one another, close as brothers should.
Whatever time was lost as boys is found as first
class days for men, men with the same hearts
who can laugh until it hurts or hunt until they’re
tired and when apart miss each other like crazy
as best friends should, as close brothers should.

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2 Comments

  1. Mary Shaver on November 6, 2012 at 4:21 am

    What a gift you have John Blase! Your writing somehow sticks to my heart and head – keeps me thinking. I don’t know how many times I’ll repeat this – but thank you.

    Reply
  2. This Week's Top Ten Poetic Picks - Tweetspeak Poetry on November 8, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    […] you looking for a one-of-a-kind gift this holiday season? You might think about poet John Blase’s offer to write a poem from a photo you provide as a gift to your loved one. He’s published an excerpt from a recent poem he […]

    Reply

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