Work Text:
war is over
Somewhere out there,
Your brother’s ears ring.
A little bell begins to chime,
Echoing through his eardrums.
He places his index and middle finger
Right behind his ears, and presses down.
He hears you, your song, your prayer or maybe
Your promise. He hears about how shit your dinner
Was today. He hears about the new tear on the side of
Your sneakers. He hears about your friend’s nuclear plan,
Your final night alive, your final chime. And somewhere nearby
Your ears begin to toll loud enough for your entire being to shake.
You bring your hands up to your ears, pressing down against your skull.
But soon, it softens. The bells clang, in and out, in and out, and soon enough
They form a lullaby that puts you to sleep for the last time. And somewhere out there,
Far from nearby, your brother is quietly humming the very tune that sounds through your ears.