One More Last Call

With fifty-nine tears, I stare at the phone, wanting to 
understand.  I had your voice in my hand.  Intense pain now 
washes through our decade’s bones.  I must be able to rinse it, 
cleanse it and restart with a stable heart.  Always layers of hurt
from you.  Now there is another, my lost Brother.

We may never meet again, not as siblings or as friends, yet you
chose to bring our last call to a painful end!  Distance and age 
whisper chilly to me of a certain possibility, this call could be the 
last call of all.  I wonder, do you feel that, too?  Does this sad truth 
also shadow you?

In life’s darkness, two stars shine on; one is our Dad, the other, 
our Mom.  Dad could not take your constant rift of frightening dread
or bear your street life, so he mentally buried you in his head.  Mom 
could not handle her first born living so forlorn, her maternal heart 
and head were torn.  She could not sever the bond, so her enabling 
continued on. Neither parent was right or wrong.  Unbearable pain
made them desperate to survive your heartbreaking song.

I never knew what to do, but I sought and fought to do it right.  
I would help, I would insist, but true help, you would resist. Each 
approach to coax you towards a healthy life ended with me tripping
through your dark light.  I’ve abandoned my hopeful persistence
by accepting that I’ll never have brother-relief, not in this existence.  
For years my insides have churned as I daily pray for some informative 
word about your wellbeing.  I've even called morgues in your state 
to learn if you were still among the living but no news ever shaped.  

I’ve had a lifetime of watching you fill your own spaces by selfishly 
passing thru daylight.  Rather than climbing up to achieve a healthy 
need, you've always sat aground and caused yourself to bleed.  
Whether you’re in jail or living drugged on the streets, loving you has 
never known relief.  I gave you my all, walked all your dark halls.  
Can’t we now have peace?

Please bro, on some near tomorrow, borrow another phone.  Call me 
and let us be the best of us, let us share love to enhance what is 
left of us.  Look to your heart and grant what I want, one more, last 
call that love may be shown when next your voice is in my phone.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015



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Date: 8/28/2025 8:55:00 AM
So heartbreaking it is to have a sibling lost to drugs and living in anonymity. This pain is felt so deep because of your love for him. How painful it was for your Dad and Mom to have a son like him. I can only pray that he will come around and understand the depth of your pain and repent over his actions. This poignant piece is written not in ink, but in your blood and we feel it. Congratulations Cay Cay on your repeated win in the Marathon. This is such a compelling write.
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Date: 8/24/2025 9:31:00 AM
Dear CayCay, the heart-twisting expression of the dark turmoil in your heart-depths is affecting and impactful! Your sorrowful soul-baring is artistically potent and poignant and poetically brilliant. Your verse reaches in deeply to dwell in my heart and soul.. a haunting piece. Congratulations for your success in Mark's contest. Warmest wishes, my poet friend.. ~Susan
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 8/25/2025 6:50:00 PM
As a poet, I know you've been in an emotional windstorm a time or seventeen and picked up a pen for therapy, and I'm sure, the words flowed from you on to the paper. That's the case here. My bro was eventually diagnosed as bi-polar and I did see him again / took care of him 2018-2022 (he died), so I was blessed w/ time w/ him, sober, medicated time. You and Daniel - both of you write lovely prose when you comment, absolutely prose and you both keep it fresh and personal. I appreciate you ... CayCay
Date: 8/22/2025 4:22:00 PM
Back with my congrats. You chose so well with this one, my friend.
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Date: 8/22/2025 12:55:00 PM
CayCay this is a poignantly compelling poem, which will resonate with those who find themselves in a similar situation. A Fav poem for me. Congratulations on your third place finish on Mile 9 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 10 has already started.
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 8/25/2025 6:43:00 PM
I got a headache and missed mile 10! Didn't have my tennis shoes on or anything. I FAILED, but I haven't bailed. Thank you, Mark, for the contest and for faving biographical poem. You definitely have us all moving, maybe not in a straight line but nevertheless hopping and bopping trying to find the right write. CayCay
Date: 8/22/2025 12:43:00 PM
Wow, Caycay...sometimes when you read something you both wish you had written it (which in this case is impossible) and also wish you could sit down over a glass of wine and just listen to their mind...love for so many reason!!
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 8/25/2025 6:40:00 PM
There's no greater compliment than you wishing you had written the poem, I know because I completely relate to that reaction. It's rare but when it happens to me, it is wholeheartedly the truth, and somewhat overwhelming. This is a therapy write, he called after yrs of silence, angered & hung up. Turns out he was bipolar, 50's babies weren't always diagnosed. Thank you, Craig. CayCay
Date: 8/20/2025 11:31:00 AM
I am faving this just in case I did another blooper like the other time when I said I would fave a poem of yours but failed to follow through. Quick soupie
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Date: 2/25/2022 11:02:00 AM
Congratulations on your win. WOW!! What a story/write. I can feel your pain. Have a great/blessed day with hugs..................
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Date: 2/21/2022 9:29:00 PM
Congrats! Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.
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Date: 2/21/2022 1:22:00 PM
"Let us be the best of us", such sage advice when the hurtful history outweighs the compassion. These deep waters are beautifully expressed here, CayCay. Congrats for your win, thank you for sharing. Hugs ~ John
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Date: 10/28/2016 7:17:00 PM
So sad, CayCay, but how well you brought your emotion to us in this well-expressed poem. Congratulations on your fine placement. Hugs, Sandra
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Date: 10/28/2016 5:22:00 PM
You told your story well, it's heartbreaking. Congrats on your win.
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Date: 10/27/2016 11:56:00 AM
Beautiful, Caycay. I am sorry that you have this painful experience (I saw below that this was autobiographical) - you shared this in a very beautiful way. Congrats on your win, and gentle hugs, Agnes
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Date: 10/26/2016 11:03:00 PM
So beautiful CayCay. Painful, powerful, brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations
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Date: 10/26/2016 9:56:00 PM
i got immersed in this expressive write, cay... wrenching indeed!.. my sweet congrats on your win!...huggs
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Date: 10/26/2016 8:28:00 PM
Caycay, I started writing to you and then realized I had seen this already, a long time ago. So I looked down at my first comment and realized it WAS a true story as I had assumed that first time. I am proud of you for scoring with this one. Big congrats and now what I should have done the first time. FAVED
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Date: 10/26/2016 7:39:00 PM
You have made this feel so personal, and non-fiction. A deeply felt poem~ Well done, CayCay !
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 10/26/2016 8:07:00 PM
Thank you, Carrie - I just read it and cried again myself. Aren't we blessed to reveal our pain in poetry? Some, never dwell in their emotions, never figure them out and, to me, that is a life wasted. Again, thank you and poetry hugs ... CayCay
Date: 10/11/2016 10:31:00 AM
This is very moving CayCay and sadly I can relate with a family member. You have expressed many of the feelings I deal with on a daily basis.
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Date: 11/6/2015 11:34:00 AM
Oh! This is heartfelt and sad, CayCay! I know perfectly well what it means for a family to cope with a problematic member...the emotions, heartache, sleepless nights. Understandable up to a point when it's health or mental related, but harder to accept when self-inflicted! ~ Take care. // paul
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Paul Callus
Date: 11/6/2015 11:35:00 AM
Just realized that this is a winning poem, and deservedly so....Congratulations!
Date: 11/3/2015 12:39:00 PM
CayCay, Congrats on your any poem win. SKAT <3
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 11/4/2015 5:24:00 PM
Thank you, Skat - you are always so kind ... CayCay
Date: 11/3/2015 12:49:00 AM
Congrats on ur superb win Caycay with this amazing write!
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 11/4/2015 5:24:00 PM
Thank you, Upma ... CayCay
Date: 11/2/2015 11:49:00 PM
CayCay, Congrats on the win. Enjoy my newest blog "One More Thing" if you'd like. Always ~LINDA~
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 11/4/2015 5:23:00 PM
Thank you, Linda - you are most kind ... CayCay
Date: 10/28/2015 6:12:00 AM
Wow! "Loving you has never known relief". Ahhh that is beautiful! I felt your words! My family has a similar situation. Oh how I can relate! A 7!!
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 11/4/2015 5:23:00 PM
Anna, dear - we are related by this pain, and to the many others affected by addiction. I hope you find your way to peace with your loved one ... CayCay
Date: 10/27/2015 6:13:00 AM
CayCay, this is so heartfelt and emotive. Some of the lines really stand out. Like when you said, "I had your voice in my hand" wow, that was such a strong visual!! And you ended on a similar note to that one. I could sense that your brother was always a very troubled person. We had a sibling like this, enabled by our stepdad and causing much woe for the rest of us. I enjoyed reading this touching poem. sorry not to see it on the winners' list, dear.
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 10/27/2015 7:40:00 AM
Having a sibling like this, has its own unique life and faith lessons, doesn't it? I think if my brother had never gone thru puberty, when the brain takes itself seriously, he would have been fine. I love him and always will. Thank you for your sweet and touching comments ... CayCay
Date: 10/26/2015 2:40:00 PM
Cay Cay this really touching. She just wanting some form of comfort. He to stubborn or selfish to see.
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 10/26/2015 8:03:00 PM
How well you summed it up, Tim. I wanted and still want comfort from him. Some day, some way. Thank you for commenting, I really appreciate it ... CayCay
Date: 10/26/2015 9:14:00 AM
Heartbreaking Cay Cay, I have no doubt Casarah will be moved as well.
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CayCay Jennings
Date: 10/26/2015 8:04:00 PM
Thank you, Richard - for reading and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate you ... CayCay
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