July 4, 2025 - “Brother Blood” by Kushal Poddar

The brother who opens your id 

and loses the key, 

makes you drunk and piss 

in your own yard as your wife 

watches from the first floor boudoir 

returns. 

You know the grey. You know the why. 

You know the honey 

and the sting he hides. 

You lower your guards in the ring,

let the blood ooze, trickle

down your chin and yet do not wipe

the corner of your mouth.

He offers your children lift 

to their school, 

takes them for fun instead. 

Nothing sharp, not more harm 

than one pale ale too many, 

your wife sees a blade 

whenever sun catches his glasses.

He returns. He disappears.

You know where. You know why.

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Kushal Poddar, the author of 'Postmarked Quarantine' has eight books to his credit. He is a journalist, father, and the editor of 'Words Surfacing’. His works have been translated into twelve languages, published across the globe. 

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Kushalpoe