Lemon Drizzle

Five years ago today

I baked a cake.

"Bully for you", I hear you say.

Well for me it wasn't an

everyday occurrence.

It was an act of love,

a gift for my brother Steve

to lift his spirits in an hour of need,

felled by the dreaded spread

of cancer from liver to brain.

Cancer that cruelly crept cat-like

after the trauma of transplant

that fed us and him

a sliver of hope

in the scope for a longer life.

He aquired a sweet tooth,

out of the blue it arrived,

took the pair of us by surprise. 

Returned us to decades before

when we pooled pocket money.

When black jacks were purchased

a penny for four, not forgetting

sherbert dips and the stain

of liquorice on teeth and lips.

Now he was buying sweets again.

"Take these for the journey home",

he'd say. "Something to chew on the way."

If it hadn't been so bloody tragic

I would have laughed

that here we were years later

doing the same old thing.

Now back to the cake I baked,

sadly I left it too late,

the following day

it drizzled plenty, not a lemon in sight.

Just rain and plenty of it, 

plus an avalanche of tears.

Reviews

[Fay Slimm]

A tragic loss to the villain called cancer and so heart-wrenchingly told - you shared happy times with a much loved brother and that will never be taken away Chris - - I know from a similar experience that memory has a habit of re-floating those days of sweet decades when sunk are our tears in floods of tears. Brothers are gifts we never forget and thank you for sharing yours with us here..........

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fay, yes that villain cancer has certainly robbed me of many loved ones and anniversaries are always difficult. My younger brother a gift.

Chris

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

A beautiful tribute to your brother and fond memories xx remember the good times that’s how they want us to remember them by xxx

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Julie. There were many good times. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Chris

[Karmee]

sad write, but so well written and expressed

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous Korin for your visit and your thoughts.

Chris

[Lyanth]

This is both heart-warming and sad with an air of nostalgia... Simple things carry so much meaning. Beautifully written, bless you both.

[Chris Shaw]

Your review is heart warming itself Lyanth, I thank you for your visit.

Chris

[Stephany]

a wonderful tribute to your brother. I am sure you will remember many of these stories to keep him alive in your heart.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stephany. Yes I have lots of memories to reflect on. This was just one of them. I appreciate your visit and you cindidering my lines.

Chris