barely 5 am barely five years old two brothers one bed i sit up
big brother warns me daddy worked last night be quiet but i smell
bacon do i dare? bare feet on wooden floor tiptoe past daddy’s
door loud snoring old floor squeaks freeze don’t wake the
angry bear
morning sun thru lace curtains glass vases line window sills bright
green houseplants fragrant gardenias curly vines reach the floor
AM radio plays church songs
peek around the corner momma cooking for five humming church
songs tiptoe floor squeaks again freeze momma turns happy
blue eyes hug her knees tight sit on kitchen table black iron skillet
crackles
momma starts singing “Amazing Grace” “I Surrender All” i tuck my
hands between my knees now we sing together “How Great Thou
Art” Sunday morning homer street
neil barentine
Homer Street
author bio
Neil Barentine is a UTEP freshman with a major in Music, and a minor in Creative Writing. He retired from the Air Force Medical Service and enrolled at UTEP for the challenge of college… again. Eight years ago, he copyrighted a two-act musical with 13 original songs. His new goal is to seek professional instruction that will make his second musical even better. He will tackle “Script Writing” this coming Spring, 2024.
