Letters from the Battlefield

A husbands attempt to comfort a wife he may never see again.

 

Dearest love,

Which star are you tonight

I search the heavens

But, still you’re a million miles of light

 

Every minute, every hour the needing desperate

Blinds and drags the hands of time

And waiting my mortal enemy

So forgotten, becomes essential to survive

 

Each day, I must shed the desert sands

Stay the salts of frail tears

To steady these trembling hands

In letters spell out the hopes and dispel away the fears

 

I stare across the starlit between the darkness

Wondering which words in this moment I should share

Very careful to filter out what's horror

And pretend I’m the same soldier that left you standing there

 

Bravery seems not to lead, but follow after all the heroes

And chaos meets us all everywhere upon this battlefield

Instinct stands right by my side and it seems the only thing to hold me all together

And, a once soft hearted preacher man has now, become a harden murder steel

 

 I say prayers within my head and mouth some to open air

But, mostly I hear words speak to me from the dark

So I hope, for angels that can take me home or at least for awhile lift me up

Or even God’s forgiveness as I further play my part

 

But, there are answers, so subtle, they are almost frigid gifts

Radiating from your locket, the exception that burns upon my skin

It is a lonely witness of life's so far gone sweetness

A testimony, love easing the casualties of men

 

There is, but left little beauty here

As red rises again across the mire

Giving light to killing days

The revelry is a rude awaking of machine gun fire

 

If I ever truly sleep

My pillow will be of love, in one last letter

Then it is His will that shall be done

Just remember, I will always be your warrior...

                             first as husband and as father

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[DarkTruth]

I love this because I can see his struggle as well as her's. Absolutely beautiful and touching!

[Michael G. Smith]

Thank you. This is based on the love letters my father wrote to my mother drink the Vietnam war.

[s y e]

This is so sweet and sentimental, Mikey... It is hard being a soldier and fighting. It is hard for the wife knowing she may never see her husband again... this touched me.

[Michael G. Smith]

Yes, I was inspired by the love letters that my father wrote home to my mother while he was fighting in Vietnam. Thanks for reading.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Sweet.. Sentimental.. Thank you for letting me visit the insides of a soldier's mind. It must be great to his lover, eh? ;) Good job!

[Michael G. Smith]

This was inspired by my father's love letters to my mother during the Vietnam war.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

That's sooooo sweet!!!

[Pryde Foltz]

Some tight verse here. What I like so much is the human face you put on the soldier. War is about gambling husbands, sons and brother, real people who have other real people loving them. Well done, indeed.

[Avinash]

A Soldier, A Family Man and A poet. Can there be a better combination?

[Michael G. Smith]

Thanks, Avinash.

[rutherford]

Tells a story from night to day and the progression of emotions. The only line I tripped up on was the last one. I wonder if it would strengthen it to add a break between warrior and first?

[Michael G. Smith]

I see what you mean the rhythm is not quite right. I am on it right now, thanks.

[rutherford]

Maybe just be me but it separates your identities as warrior from the first identities as husband and father. I was reluctant to mention because I didn't want to mess with your structure.

[Michael G. Smith]

I changed it, tell me how it works now.

[rutherford]

My preference only--but I think it highlights the husband father identities more strongly than before. A great poem either way.

[Michael G. Smith]

Don't sell your criticism short. It was a good observation and it actually made the piece read better. I for one appreciate this kind of help. I want to learn to be better not receive hollow praises that many seem to give out of fear of hurt feelings. so thanks again.

[Rita L. Sev]

I read this with that perspective - what if my husband was still serving... Your words gave me chills. Powerful write, M.G.