Touching, sad, and reflective. A very powerful poem Teresa. Two thoughts come to mind. My mother had three sons sent to Vietnam in the 60's and early 70's. Many times she said she never experienced a restful nights's sleep while her sons were there. All three of my brothers talked extensively about their final month in Nam. They knew they were 30 days away from going home. They were restless and wary that something bad might happen in their final month. All three said every man on flight home cheered mightily as the transport plane lifted off the tarmac.
Tears spilling over this beautifully poignant comment, Steven. What a difficult time for your mother ... I'm amazed at the strength it must take ... I can only imagine the great joy in that moment of lift off... Thank you so much for commenting. It makes writing and posting this poem so very worthwhile....
War has been so consistent, so long, so normal that hardly anyone pauses to think about exactly how this all came about. That it has become part of our economic structure virtually means that it won't end until it is extracted from our way of doing business. And the saddest part in my opinion? Each lost life leaves an empty hole. And for what?
Thanks for writing this. A somber reminder of where we are and what we have become as a nation.
Behind those shoes are people who once walked the earth and had stories to tell. To see them lying there like that is so sad indeed. They become memories to the ones who have lost. Somber post.
Exactly so. We forget about all the people who are designated "collateral damage." Every day people all over the world are dying in war after war. These particular shoes are on the feet of protesters in Egypt who were killed by "security forces."
Touching, sad, and reflective. A very powerful poem Teresa. Two thoughts come to mind. My mother had three sons sent to Vietnam in the 60's and early 70's. Many times she said she never experienced a restful nights's sleep while her sons were there. All three of my brothers talked extensively about their final month in Nam. They knew they were 30 days away from going home. They were restless and wary that something bad might happen in their final month. All three said every man on flight home cheered mightily as the transport plane lifted off the tarmac.
ReplyDeleteTears spilling over this beautifully poignant comment, Steven. What a difficult time for your mother ... I'm amazed at the strength it must take ... I can only imagine the great joy in that moment of lift off... Thank you so much for commenting. It makes writing and posting this poem so very worthwhile....
DeleteWar has been so consistent, so long, so normal that hardly anyone pauses to think about exactly how this all came about. That it has become part of our economic structure virtually means that it won't end until it is extracted from our way of doing business. And the saddest part in my opinion? Each lost life leaves an empty hole. And for what?
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing this. A somber reminder of where we are and what we have become as a nation.
The sad, awful truth, Bill.
DeleteThank you so much for commenting.
Behind those shoes are people who once walked the earth and had stories to tell. To see them lying there like that is so sad indeed. They become memories to the ones who have lost. Somber post.
ReplyDeleteExactly so. We forget about all the people who are designated "collateral damage." Every day people all over the world are dying in war after war. These particular shoes are on the feet of protesters in Egypt who were killed by "security forces."
Delete