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Burning Bright

Vesuvius and Catastrophe

Sep 8, 2026 · 8 min · 7 segments

*Burning Bright* returns with a look into catastrophes both personal and physical, featuring poetry by Priscilla Long, Leah Silverman, and James K. Zimmerman…

*Burning Bright* returns with a look into catastrophes both personal and physical, featuring poetry by Priscilla Long, Leah Silverman, and James K. Zimmerman. Support the show

*Burning Bright* returns with a look into catastrophes both personal and physical, featuring poetry by Priscilla Long, Leah Silverman, and James K. Zimmerman…

Speakers: Jon ShorrHost

Top entities: Priscilla Long×5 Mount Vesuvius×5 Passover×3 Passager Books×4 Louisiana×2

Priscilla Long: Brother Three0:53 – 2:34

0:53

Priscilla Long said that she and her sister and brother grew up together, playing together for all the years of their childhood.

1:01

She said she wrote this poem to remember him by.

1:05

Brother Three My brother, an aficionado of physics and fine whiskey... a reader of philosophy and history.

1:16

After his liberation from a Florida jail, took the train to New York to see La Boheme, Rigoletto, La Traviata.

1:26

He arrived in New York.

1:28

The first message came from a VA hospital.

1:31

He'd given them my number.

1:33

His address? On the street.

1:36

I begged him, let them help you.

1:39

He hung up.

1:40

Next, Harlem Hospital.

1:43

He'd been there homeless, filthy, robbed of ID.

1:47

I waited for the next message.

1:50

Bellevue Hospital saved his life.

1:53

Delegated by family, I sent him the fine objects he preferred, for he was speaking to me.

1:59

The final message? He died alone in a hospital.

2:04

Did he know his time was near? What were his last thoughts? He's buried beside the wife he used to beat.

2:12

No one wants his childhood photos.

2:16

I wear his Rolex.

2:18

Time wears down.

2:21

This rain-soaked night, I dream of my brother, friend to me.

2:27

He arrives, but never speaks.

2:31

Priscilla Long's poem, Brother, Three.

Priscilla LongPersonAmerican writer and poet
96%5 mentions
Mount VesuviusVolcanoStratovolcano in Italy
89%5 mentions
PassoverEntityHoliday
82%3 mentions
Passager BooksCompany
75%4 mentions
LouisianaAdministrative AreaUS state
68%2 mentions
DonationEntity
61%1 mention
RolexCompanyManufacturing company
54%1 mention
Bellevue Hospital CenterHospitalHospital in New York
46%1 mention
New YorkCityCity in New York State
39%2 mentions
FloridaAdministrative AreaUS state
29%1 mention
La traviataMusic CompositionOpera by Giuseppe Verdi
29%1 mention
Normandy landingsEventBattle
18%2 mentions
Lake CharlesCityCity in Louisiana
11%1 mention
ZydecoEntityMusic genre
4%1 mention

Mental HealthHealth
Society
Family DynamicsLiterature > Poetry > Personal Reflection
TraumaLiterature > Poetry > Personal Reflection > Family Dynamics
MemoryFamily > Childhood > Sibling Relationships > Loss
Family InfluenceHealth > Mental Health > Trauma > Coping Mechanisms
ImageryArts > Poetry > Narrative Techniques
SymbolismArts > Poetry > Narrative Techniques > Imagery
Family IssuesSociety > Cultural Trauma
AlcoholismSociety > Cultural Trauma > Family Issues
ViolenceSociety > Cultural Trauma > Family Issues > Alcoholism
TraumaHealth > Mental Health
PoetryLiterature
ChildhoodFamily
Personal ReflectionLiterature > Poetry
Coping MechanismsHealth > Mental Health > Trauma
Sibling RelationshipsFamily > Childhood
PoetryArts
LossFamily > Childhood > Sibling Relationships
Narrative TechniquesArts > Poetry
Health
Family
Literature
Arts
Cultural TraumaSociety

Priscilla Long: Brother Three0:53 – 2:34

0:53

Priscilla Long said that she and her sister and brother grew up together, playing together for all the years of their childhood.

1:01

She said she wrote this poem to remember him by.

1:05

Brother Three My brother, an aficionado of physics and fine whiskey... a reader of philosophy and history.

1:16

After his liberation from a Florida jail, took the train to New York to see La Boheme, Rigoletto, La Traviata.

1:26

He arrived in New York.

1:28

The first message came from a VA hospital.

1:31

He'd given them my number.

1:33

His address? On the street.

1:36

I begged him, let them help you.

1:39

He hung up.

1:40

Next, Harlem Hospital.

1:43

He'd been there homeless, filthy, robbed of ID.

1:47

I waited for the next message.

1:50

Bellevue Hospital saved his life.

1:53

Delegated by family, I sent him the fine objects he preferred, for he was speaking to me.

1:59

The final message? He died alone in a hospital.

2:04

Did he know his time was near? What were his last thoughts? He's buried beside the wife he used to beat.

2:12

No one wants his childhood photos.

2:16

I wear his Rolex.

2:18

Time wears down.

2:21

This rain-soaked night, I dream of my brother, friend to me.

2:27

He arrives, but never speaks.

2:31

Priscilla Long's poem, Brother, Three.

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