Vietnam Memorial
I never knew Tommy,
my older brother. He was a name
Mom teared up over.
Mom said he was in heaven
looking down on us.
I had an image in my head
of heaven as a bridge
over a pond—
a bridge where Tommy sat,
gazing down at us
all dressed up on Sundays
with our faces bright, like koi.
Today Sis went with us
to meet Tommy. Her dress a pastel blue
like her favorite fish, the ochiba.
Ochiba is Japanese
for “leaves that have fallen”.
We searched for Tommy’s name
on that long black stream
of a wall. When Dad found it
he crumbled to his knees.
Mom, sobbing, left flowers
and a handwritten note
on the ground.
Our reflections
hovering together like koi
in the gleaming blackness,
we turned and drifted away,
Sis waving back.
The sky was filled
with cumulus, the clouds
like crumpled tissues being blown
about at the wall's
base.
Vietnam Memorial
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- Posts: 2154
- Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57
November 11, 2021 Re: Vietnam Memorial
Hi Bob,
Although I first read this days ago, I reserved by response for today: in honor of Veterans Day. If there were to be a poetry reading at the Vietnam Memorial, yours Bob would be a worthy & ideal candidate. Here, on the home front, it is on my IBPC short list.
This family memoir-poem is anything but sentimental.
Admiral.
Most especially moved by this family simile:
Our reflections
hovering together like koi
in the gleaming blackness,
2 Workshop-shares:
1/
of heaven as a bridge
over a pond—
a bridge where Tommy sat
keeping guard, gazing down
at us all dressed up, Sundays,
with our faces bright, like koi.
2/
with cumulus, the clouds
like crumpled tissues
being blown about
at the wall's base
or
with cumulus, the clouds
like crumpled tissues being blown
about at the wall's
base line.
Bob, I salute you, poetry-master
Michael (MV)
His Providence
like the son
returning Home
Although I first read this days ago, I reserved by response for today: in honor of Veterans Day. If there were to be a poetry reading at the Vietnam Memorial, yours Bob would be a worthy & ideal candidate. Here, on the home front, it is on my IBPC short list.
This family memoir-poem is anything but sentimental.
Admiral.
Most especially moved by this family simile:
Our reflections
hovering together like koi
in the gleaming blackness,
2 Workshop-shares:
1/
of heaven as a bridge
over a pond—
a bridge where Tommy sat
keeping guard, gazing down
at us all dressed up, Sundays,
with our faces bright, like koi.
2/
with cumulus, the clouds
like crumpled tissues
being blown about
at the wall's base
or
with cumulus, the clouds
like crumpled tissues being blown
about at the wall's
base line.
Bob, I salute you, poetry-master
Michael (MV)
His Providence
like the son
returning Home
-
- Posts: 2688
- Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03
Re: Vietnam Memorial
Thanks, Michael. You are more than generous. I like your “keeping guard” suggestion. Best
Re: Vietnam Memorial
I second or third this poem for nomination.