Memorial

    His song swerved 
    suddenly
    missed the curve 
    and descended 
    into silence.

Still in Memory
Just a tall skinny kid,
only son   from Columbus Ohio
  graduated high school
  long craggy face
  no Cary Grant
just a tall skinny kid
from Columbus Ohio.

Drafted.   World War II.   Duty served.
Marines.   Medic.
  didn’t carry a gun.
just a tall skinny kid
from Columbus Ohio.

Survived two battles in the Pacific.
then Iwo Jima: 
  headed out to the wounded
Killed by a   sniper's bullet.
  didn’t carry a gun.
  just a tall skinny kid...

Knock, knock, at her door.
Telegram for you, Ma’am.     --March 1945
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Merryman Avatar
June 20, 2023 at 9:31 PM
The short "just stating the facts" lines and the repeated lines followed by the ending, grabs your heartstrings. So sad! A great write for Memorial Day! Blessings, Kim M
Fisher Avatar
June 20, 2023 at 5:16 PM
Thank you for sharing this story.
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