talking lamps

they were discussing the possession of his gun

...not the one he shot himself with,

but another, one that he spent hours with

in the woods, hunting in autumn

with my father, brother and his son.

now seven years later, the gun is trivial.

brother holds it sacred, sleeps with it.

while gathered in a living room,

dry, red, tired eyes chewing tongues,

deciding the fate of this sacred gun.

emotions rise out of frustration.

brother 'should keep it, it is cherished!'

...the light flickers

so and so 'can't have it! not now!'

'we can't just take it away from him!'

...the light goes out

women scream out of shock.

...the light turns back on

minutes pass, the shock dissipates,

conversation commences again.

solid decisions start to roll.

words begin to please the lamp,

...it starts dim and brightens.

'it should stay with' brother...

...it brightens more still.

'he loves and cherishes it'

...the bulb now glowing fire!

an awkward amount of light,

too much for the 40 watts.

'ok!' women exclaim,

brother 'keeps it!'

'Tommy wants it that way

...the lamp told us'.