Burning down the School

One morning when I was still caught in dreamland,
my brother woke me like a demon spawn.
And like someone who had just lost their bearings,
wide-eyed I wondered where my dreams had gone.

His was a face of flush with animation;
I noticed shock and excitement extant.
Repeated Wake up! and my name were shouted;
I was mind-muddled by his morning rant.

He had his radio on in the background;
turns out it was efficacious to wit.
It was the news at the top of the hour--
with that touch a rude awakening hit.

“The school burned down!” he cried breathless and reddened;
I struggled to join the state of awake.
He blurted out he had just heard the newscast--
O what a fooling a brother can make!

“You’re shitting me!” I said, saliva foaming;
I felt my heart nudge my larynx with throb.
Then in my state of a Christmas bonanza,
his grinning told me it was a con job.

An older brother and April conspired;
I was the fodder for one evil trick.
All through the day I unwound nervous central,
yet in my mind lingered thoughts of a prick.


24 Lines [Rhythm: 11-10-11-10]
Writer’s Cramp
March 29, 2014