goodbye milk and honey

“Goodbye Milk And Honey.” “How’s Carla?” the solider had been away from home for about a year now. Tamarack looked at the R.A.F uniform that fit like a glove on Spider, and became intimidated. He was always the ‘stronger’ brother; and he was the brains. So it goes. They were sitting in his apartment, drinking tea. The rickety table had been their mother’s. Coffee and cigarette stains were still visible, and Spider smiled down at them, still waiting for an answer. “Tim-tam, how’s Carla?” You’ve been away for fourteen months and you ask that. You could have asked anything but- “Well, how is she?” That. Tamarack took a sip of his tea, stirring in the sugar with a spoon. The clanging metal against china seemed to bounce of walls, and go on forever. He noticed Spider didn’t put anything in his tea anymore. I remember when we were kids. You used to beg Mum for more milk and honey. Then she’d laugh and say ‘Spider, you keep doing that and you’ll be as sweet as milk and honey by the time you’re grown.” Tea’s black. “Are you gonna’ answer me?” I wish I didn’t have to. “She’s dead, Spider.” Spider then laughed, and his gold tooth shined. “Stop fooling around. She’s not dead unless my new boy killed her.” And he laughed again. “No. She is dead. And you never had a son…” “Oh so the little girl killed her then.” I want to laugh with you. Laugh at you for how stupid your laugh sounds. Tamarack placed his tea cup on the table. It landed with a serious ‘thump’. “I’ll just go by the flat and see her then, since you- wait. I got it. You two are planning a surprise party for me and you’re support to keep me here! Gotcha good.” “There is no party. There is no baby, and goddamn it Spider there is no more Carla!” That was the loudest Tamarack ever spoke. Spider looked at him in astonishment, his ebony face, looked coffee colored. Spider grabbed the tea cup, and through it against the wall, and walked out the door. Leaving behind a puddle of darkness, and broken things. And there was no more milk and honey.

Colors

And when colors fade where will that leave you?
 When you are left alone in grays and darker hues,
 Who will you call out to?

 Our love light is fading,
The colors are dying,
 I swore I held you high once,
 Queen of my heart,
 My caverns and crevasses of bone.

Your crown once glittered wholesome gold,
 Now is left, gray and rusted,
 And quickly growing old.

Your army and I,
The captain of the guard,
We were once shining brass and covered,
 In a rainbow of stars.

And when colors fade where will that leave you?
When you are left alone in grays and darker hues,
Who will you call out to?