Stream of consciousness poem -- part 44

Chapter 44

October 29, 2011 – In the parking lot of the Mental Health Center

Down the path

From the hospital door

To the parking lot

I look for

My son

He spies me

About the same time

That I

Spy him

He runs

Toward me

Squealing

And tries to knock me over

With a

Big hug

He studies

My brother

My too-thin too-frail brother

With his hospital-approved clothing

And his wild hair and beard

And his even more

Wild eyes

He studies

My brother

And my son’s eyes change

From being clouded with confusion

To being bright

With joy

And then

He squeals

“Uncle _________!

Uncle _________!”

And he nearly fells

My too-thin too-frail brother

With a big hug

Around

The knees

And my son

Looks at

My brother

With eyes that shine

With happiness

And love

My brother’s

Eyes tear

And change

For a

Moment

In that

Moment

I glimpse him --

The brother I knew

The brother I thought I had lost --

Somewhere

In the wild eyes

Of this gaunt

Bedraggled

Stranger