Flat Soda

By Aaron Stokes, 17

A small room,

Bunked with my brothers,

Laughing together,

Until the sun rises on this harmonious moment,

And we journey together into the new day.

All gathered,

A klatch around the kitchen counter,

Drinking soda and glory,

Reminiscing of a life once lived

A few hours’ drive from this Galveston beach.

Even the little ones join in the fun

Of familiar harmony.

But all good things must come to an end,

Stop and never start again.

Families move on,

Brothers move away,

Leaving baggage on their beds.

Soda turns flat,

No longer fizzing its syrupy glory.

Sand turns into an irritant,

The ocean makes you feel polluted.

No more chips are crushed into sandwiches,

No more klatch around the kitchen counters,

Haunted by silence and memory.

Time can turn even the greatest of memories

Into dust.

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What inspired this poem was a family trip I took in 2016. I was young and hopeful, but never realized that days like those are numbered. I live abroad, so I rarely get to see my extended family. I have never been happier than I was during that trip, and I miss it.

Recently both my brothers have moved away. It was inevitable because I am the youngest, but they seem to just go on living without me and it’s hard to realize that I have to do the same. With this poem, I wanted to encourage us to appreciate the moments you have with the people you love, because you never know when or if a day like that will come again.

Instagram: @aaronnluke