Memorial Day

[Chase Creek 0]

My dad and his 4 brothers served in WW2. They were scattered all over Europe and

the Pacific. All came home, but not without scars, physical and otherwise.

This is something my brother wrote and appeared in The Ledge and Other Poems,

a book of poetry he wrote.

 

"North Africa: 1942

 

In North Africa, my father dreamed

of his morning chores in Michigan,

falling back into his grimy cot each night

to leave the clattering of Sherman tanks

and the thud of German eighty-eights

for the comfort of hip-roof barns,

and the calm presence of animals:

throwing down hay from the mow

for the Holsteins, filling the trough

by thier stanchions with grain,

the purring barn-cats mewing softly and

nuzzling his boots, gathering eggs

in the dim half-light of the henhouse,

the sweet-grass egg basket growing

heavier in the gray African dawn,

where outside, Gurkha mercenaries

crept back into camp from a night raid

carrying a trophy bag filled

with the ears of Nazi sentinals."

 

My dad passed away at the age of 53. I was 18, and of course knew it all.

It wasn't until many years after my dad passed that I came to realize the sacrifice he and others

made, giving up years of thier lives, away from home and loved ones. I wish I would have told him

how proud I was of his unselfish service.

 

If you have someone in the service now, tell them how proud you are of them, and tell them for me, too.

 

[letumgo 0]

Thank you for posting this poem, Chase Creek. Your brother's poem is beautiful. I am truly grateful for the service and sacrifice of all who have served our country.

[burninbriar 0]

My dad passed away at the age of 53. I was 18, and of course knew it all.

It wasn't until many years after my dad passed that I came to realize the sacrifice he and others

made, giving up years of thier lives, away from home and loved ones. I wish I would have told him

how proud I was of his unselfish service.

I have a feeling that you need not worry about having not told you're father how you feel, my guess is he already knows.