The sorrow of war
Intoxicated by the joy of peace,
His mood was lifted to the fragrant cloud.
Half running, he returned to the home street.
His burdened feet could barely touch the ground.
At last he stopped before a housing block.
Imbued with moss, it looked so aged and dim.
No light was seen – the time was two o’clock,
Yet he hoped, someone was expecting him.
A sense of joy was surging up inside
As soon he would rejoin his darling one,
Of whom he’d thought throughout the placid nights
And brutal days, amidst the choir of guns.
For many bloody and horrendous years,
He had been tortured in a ceaseless burn
Recalling when she’d said to him in tears:
“I promise I will wait for your return.”
And now his dream would soon become fulfilled -
A medal for his courage in attack,
For all the blood and sweat that had been spilled,
For someone who had come to hell and back.
His heartbeat was like thunder in the sky
As he approached and gently tapped the door.
He called her name but there was no reply
As if she hadn’t lived there anymore.
He felt like an eternity had passed
Before, eventually, there was a noise.
He could hear somebody was coming fast,
Awakened by his unexpected voice.
When she appeared, he felt a great delight
Surpassing all the earthly joys combined.
But such a dream come true was killed outright
When he perceived another man behind.
They stood there for a while without a word,
As if the story had revealed itself.
His heart was broken, and his eyes were blurred.
He turned around with burdened feet like hell.
So much for all the hopes he’d clung on to!
So much for all the vows that had been said!
He didn’t know if this was false or true.
His sanity was absolutely dead.
He staggered aimlessly along the street
And sometimes uttered a hysterical scream.
From then on, he had nowhere to retreat.
There was no longer any hope or dream.
So this was what the time of peace would be!
His vessel had to take another course.
The glorious, brilliant rays of victory
Had paid him with an even greater loss.
Copyright © Manh Vu | Year Posted 2025
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