Icebox Disaster
Icebox Disaster
Only living son
Home from steamy jungles of New Guinea
Wearing strips of a Master Sergeant
Tales recounted from Australia – Sydney R & R –
In spear points and javelins;
Malaria still traced upon
A war tanned face;
No more holding breath -
Four years of halting steps -
Reaching for the mail –
Cringing at the doorbell’s
Unexpected
Shrill screams,
No blue star hangs upon a window,
Relief sighs
So grateful for hugs held
Extra seconds
In reunion
Though shocked eyes hide
To see a frame so thin -
Hoping darkness covers memories
Reappearing uninvited;
House filled with booming debates
And scents of apple pie,
An icebox crammed with every good thing,
Not seen for years,
From harvest and from garden,
Visited so often
One morning screams of pain resound
As the icebox door crashes to the floor
Breaking a mother’s foot -
With no regrets
Only gratitude for family
Together again.
When my mother's oldest brother returned from war, he went to the refrigerator so often he weakened the door. One morning the door fell off right onto his mother's foot!
Copyright © Sam Kauffman | Year Posted 2020
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment