brothers

We were skinny

half-naked

blonde and tan

and we ran barefoot

and wild

every summer

turning green grass

brown

flattening the yard 

until it was hard-packed

like pavement.

Mom and Dad

never had

nice things

a tidy house

an immaculate yard

because we three boys

were so filled up

with destructive love

pushing and shoving

laughing and hollering

that it was impossible

for us

to slow

down

So, windows got busted

paneling cracked

and many breakable treasures

met their fate.

Oh, the damage

little boys

do. 

Copyright © 2024 by KJ Stevens