Letters To the Lady
Troop ships loading, crowded docks
Mums and sisters waving off
Go with keepsakes, golden locks
Some men hug while many doff
Eric, soldier single stands
Beryl, lonesome widow cares
Many kissing holding hands
Eric stands and Beryl dares
Bump the soldier, make excuse
Apologizing spurious
Didn't see you, just a ruse
By yourself? Just curious?
For my King I leave this shore
Family none to wave today
Orphaned fourteen eighteen war
But thanks for asking, A okay
Husband, brother, both my sons
Sent to fight that last great war
Lost to save us from the Huns
Yet armed young men march off once more
For now the Nazi's wield their cleaver
Daughter serves in secret France
Wave goodbye to every leaver
As Britain stands its bulldog stance
Could I maybe write to you
Tell you if I'm keeping well
By return you could write too
All the news from home to tell
Letters travel hither thither
Early short though later long
Each await the next deliver
To proxy mum, to proxy son
Told of friends, the muddied dead
Told of cycling in the park
Told of rapid fire lead
Told of lights out in the dark
Told of Stanley 'saved my life'
Told of puncture walked instead
Told of guilt and poor Stan's wife
Told of Monday baking bread
Told of fight to keep his head
Told of break in London rains
Told of dreams of silent bed
Told of cleaning out the drains
Then from home no letter came
One missed turned to two
Sent another all the same
If you wish, my last to you
Watched as many friends have gone
Yet strived to battle through
With your words I've soldiered on
I send my thanks to you
And if I've now received your last
I'll fight this battle still
And though my orders stand me fast
Weakened is my will
And though the letters came again
Something different subtle
Word from home to give him gain
An end to her rebuttal
News exchanged with one another
Til the end of war
Wrote his friend and wartime mother
Soon be home once more
Taxi stopped at known address
One more shock of war
Flattened houses three abreast
Bombed six months before
Sorry Son the neighbor said
Last bomb was a belter
Beryl's gone, the lady's dead
Never took to shelter
Wooden cross that states her name
A most confusing sight
For dead can't welcome soldiers back
But neither can they write
Pondered letters to and fro
Kit bag shouldered, turned to go
Twenty-two-ish, slim, demure
Are you Eric, shy, unsure
Had him at a disadvantage
For she knew his name
Yet Beryl's manner came to mind
And saw in her the same
Saw me through it, note by note
Wrote me like a mother
Even gone for six months now
How could she send another
For my loss they sent me home
From service 'cross the water
Found your notes in mum's effects
For I am Beryl's daughter
Tried to tell of Mum's demise
Your need it seemed profound
And so I wrote on her behalf
Intentions kind and sound
I've battled bomb and bullet
War's sick and ugly truths
As soldiers we prepare for that
But bomb's crashed London's roofs
Yet you deny me any word
Of Beryl's wicked fate
Could have mourned her long before
Instead of six months late
Produced for him a folded note
Regret I made that error
These words reveal, in your hand wrote
Your anguished lonesome terror
Read it once and read again
Bomb's and bullets in his head
Reminder of the inner pain
Of man resigned to being dead
Single tear 'pon pencilled word
Couldn't have survived
But for your notes that reassured
Though they be contrived
Turned and silent walked away
So much he'd hoped to tell
Turned to where the daughter stay
She who'd lost as well
Called across to Beryl's girl
Could use some company
Would you care to walk a while
Or share a pot of tea
Two years on friends shuffle in
A church ceremony
To witness there the christening
Of little baby B
First posted 1 April 2021 (but written earlier)
For: Your Personal Favorite
Sponsor: L Milton Hankins
Copyright © Terry Flood | Year Posted 2021
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