Oh Brother! Poem by Srivinay Salian

There he was, bedside
Back turned to me
Tying his shoelace

A shirt, a jean and
Pair of canvas soles
That’s all he wore

Calmly, I gauge
His sparks of joy
Set to break free

Whereto, I cavil
And must you jaunt
Without luggage?

He takes off
Stops by the door
Then glints at me

His smile bestow
Nub of the story
Puzzles to crack.

With muzzy sanity
I strain to unravel
What was unsaid?

Door creaks open
Axenic rays, seep
Flash me blind

Then it befall
An ethereal shift
And I was gone