| Letters and Diary Poetry posted October 13, 2014 |
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After learning of another brain surgery
The Sergeant and I
by jlsavell
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The aged Sergeant, sitting alone in his old tattered chair, right there as he always does, on his unkempt lawn where the only sprigs of green are seen grasping for life between the hotspots just like the Sergeant now in his numbered days Cigarette butts piled high beside a dying rosebush, once lush with promise just like us all and him The likes of 'Old Yeller' reclining lazily at his feet loyal, arthritic, and soft… mimics his master tongue dangling from the heat His back rests against the old house still there in disrepair, moans despair crumbling inside like its owner who forgot how to live long ago despite life’s throws He knows His faded red Ford truck, still there leaking and squeaking for rebirth much as the Sergeant sitting in his chair, right there Dripping oil stains the cracked and weathered drive Again, like haunting memories dripped and dripped running down and staining the canvas of his life My neighbor, of sorts, the Sergeant I walked across the lawn to converse, not rehearsed as I do on occasion, on certain occasions “Good day, sweet man, hot day.” He just stares, right there from his tattered chair registering my erratic visits Retrieves two cold Buds from the well-used Igloo “Your chair’s in there, you know.” Yes, just as it has always been, again and again Up against a tarred ragged wall in the garage where all could see his savored keepsakes stored in mildewed, rat infested boxes piled high I sigh “You should fix this door, if nothing more The rain and the heat you know and the kids to and fro' will ruin and pillage your fare.” But he just stares “Long as they don’t mess with my flag.”, He says while taking a drag Yes, Old Glory, the one he holds dear, memories of yesteryear which he holds on to like his beer, his cigs, and this house Oh, yes, but not his wife and not his kids, for they demanded more than the war he never outwore This old man scarred and marred Such a proud one once, before that war Young, filled with dreams, void of terrifying screams His bright blue eyes dulled from the spoil and years of emotion’s toil ahhh But I remember their beauty once upon a distant time His trembling hands offered a light I refuse, for once he’s bemused “Should’ve known you’d say no, ‘cept that time long ago You chugged my whiskey and lit my Salems, to show me But I didn’t see, not then.” A raspy laugh and then he sighed "True, you were blind, but we were young and filled with dreams till the terrifying screams. So they’re coming by today, on their way for their stay. You know it must be.” He raises his hand in the air to gesture away the dread then tilts his head for the beer's last drop “Do you think she’ll be okay? I’ll learn to pray.” He muttered through his tears “Yes ,Sergeant, our little sprite has a will of might, just like her Grandpa did once upon a time before the war.” Before the war, where no corpses lay and the aftermath had not been born with hearts out-worn “Well I must go, you know. They’re on their way for a longer stay. She’ll be okay, and, yes, do pray.” The old dog took a long stretch, arose to my stand “Take care of Sargent, will ya' old fella'.” “One more for the road?” clearly wanting me to stay Turning to see tears and unspoken fears and unyielding ghosts of yesteryears “Thank you, but no. I must go.” “One more thing...Did you love me? I mean really love me once upon a time?” Did the old Sergeant see that trace upon my face of regrets and what ifs? “Oh, yes, I loved you then, but I didn’t know, know how to be your friend or help a broken soul mend. And I love you now, after all, we’re family till the end.” |
 Recognized |
A conversation with my ex-husband, a Viet-Nam Vet, after learning that our 10 year old granddaughter, Sarah, is facing another brain surgery November 5th. Another AVM was discovered deeper in her brain last Monday through an angiogram.She's a remarkable little trooper, for this will be her third brain surgery in a year.
Thank you C.Young for Beyond the Shadows
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and 2 member cents. Thank you C.Young for Beyond the Shadows
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