My fiancé went to Nam 1954

Martin Steele

As that last dawn brightened,
You told me you loved me,
In your fine-blown kiss,
Filtering down from the mouth of that green rust monster,
Vaunting devouring whirring blades.
Too easily you were torn and toiled away,
Lofted high above the dust-hovering earth,
That devoured my one only love,
Saddening my masked fearful face,
Evaporating your last smile to the ghost air
Of that accursed Quang Tri Trail.

Remember that brightening dawn?
You said
“I will gather you,
In shamrock and roses.”
You said, you, my love,
“I will return, for Christmas Bells.”
You said you will embrace me,
You would love me,
Ardent and intense as a dove’s deep desire.

I’ve cried all these bygone lonely springs,
Counting my diary’s countless days,
As you, my darling, filter away in ceaseless time.
I’ve waited a million summers now;
At every dawn, incessantly staining this black granite wall,
With kisses from my withered mouth.
Tomorrow has another dawn.
Is there a chance you will return ...?

boontoe

© Kopiereg in die ontwerp en inhoud van hierdie webruimte behoort aan LitNet, uitgesluit die kopiereg in bydraes wat berus by die outeurs wat sodanige bydraes verskaf. LitNet streef na die plasing van oorspronklike materiaal en na die oop en onbeperkte uitruil van idees en menings. Die menings van bydraers tot hierdie werftuiste is dus hul eie en weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van die redaksie en bestuur van LitNet nie. LitNet kan ongelukkig ook nie waarborg dat hierdie diens ononderbroke of foutloos sal wees nie en gebruikers wat steun op inligting wat hier verskaf word, doen dit op hul eie risiko. Media24, M-Web, Ligitprops 3042 BK en die bestuur en redaksie van LitNet aanvaar derhalwe geen aanspreeklikheid vir enige regstreekse of onregstreekse verlies of skade wat uit sodanige bydraes of die verskaffing van hierdie diens spruit nie. LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.