A normal day,
Nothin' special.
Searchin' for food,
Livin' for the second.
Dad came home from huntin'
And with him,
Came Fury and Rage.
Tough as nails and rough as sandpaper.
"Boy," he screamed
"Whattaya think you're doin'!"
"I'm havin a smoke, Pop," came the reply.
"Aint a big deal."
The cinders fell,
And my heart sped.
This aint good-
Someone gonna end up dead.
My brother tapped the stick,
Not even a second guess.
My father clenched Fury,
And kissed Rage.
Stomping shook the shack-
Momma came screamin,
"Don't hurt the boy, Will!"
That was the last she cared.
A smack to the head,
The resulting broken nose,
Bruised lips.
She stopped in her tracks.
Fury and Rage,
They have no mercy.
Hammering down on bone,
Cracking is enough to make me close my eyes.
I wish I wasn't here.
No more!
No more!
But I'm stuck.
Merle fights back through tears and pain.
He lands a jaw shot.
Fury and Rage loosen.
The giant tumbles back.
Dad lays unconscious.
Merle spits on his shirt.
"I aint ever comin back to this place," he exclaims.
"You're a f-n', no good piece of dirt."
His footsteps are strong,
He's finally gettin out.
But he stops short,
And looks over his shoulder.
My brother stares at me.
Dead in the eyes.
I want him to take me with him,
But he won't have the time.
He manages an expression;
I can't tell,
If it's a pout,
Or a weak attempt at a smile.
Snatching a bottle,
He takes a swig.
Tosses it to the ground,
Relishing in the break.
Merle doesn't turn back again,
He needs to get out.
He steps through that door,
And that's all there is.
Fury and Rage,
They drove him from home.
He was seventeen and alone
But I was only twelve.