Early Learning

 
John and Robert had occasionally
shared body heat and ragged breath.
 
Robert had not despised him. He acknowledged
Their connection even among the crowd
 
of their acquaintance. Robert’s protection
gained John a grudging acceptance
 
among the ever changing group of boys
who made up Robert’s gang.
 
 But today they all seemed keen to avoid
acknowledging each other, not knowing
 
how to greet the impossible news that Robert
and his elder brother were killed at dusk
 
as day was mourning the failure of light.
Robert’s brother loved his raucous, powerful motorbike.
 
Occasionally he allowed his younger brother on the pillion,
unhelmeted, hair flowing in the turbulent air. John imagined
 
he could hear the impact that silenced the engine’s roar, that he could see
the parabola that Robert had described before he crashed into eternity,
 
All the warmth and excitement they explored
in shared secrecy, existed no more, outside of his memory.