Odyssey of Poems!

Shadowy light on the page, somehow rekindles the woman’s steady

gaze, as she reads from her dear Fathers’ part handwritten, intimate

war story. From the brief ‘good life,’ assistance and mistakes made in

Singapore, forward onto the draining marches to the Thai jungle: under orders.

Several years later, a short climax. The sky lets loose. Bloodied aftermath.

Someone chose not to surrender, back then.

On the large finger of open land: Okinawa beach, a lean

brave supportive man, finds poems for a second khaki pocket.

Much later lovingly shares verses with his children, up close.

Years on daughter, reads a fbk friends page, which resonates.

Mary in the States shares an obituary of her Mother: 100 years plus 1.

‘In 1945 Mother  lost her fiancé somewhere, on the vast shoreline.’

The writer contacts her immediately.  ‘Perhaps:  ‘THE BEST LOVED

POEMS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,’ might have belonged to your

Mother’s fiancé Mary?’  Doubtless reflecting, she quickly responds:

‘Yes, that’s quite possible Sarah’.                 (Thank – you Mary.)

 ‘You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be---

I had a Mother (& Father) who read to me.’ 

By S. Gillilan