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!