why do you stand there
staring off into the horizon
as if he’ll be coming home
he is already home
he is buried
with his friends
his cross
bearing the helmet
he wore that day
a day when death
took his hand
and led him
into a negotiated peace
one paid for with blood
so there is no need
for you to stand there
waiting with ribbons of tears
tying up your life
around a gift of hope
for someone
who cannot come
to christmas day
so come in from those cold memories
and join me around
the warm embers
of existence
That’s a hard hitting one my friend and so right for Pearl harbor day. Remembering that men wont come home from that war or others is a pain – how do we endure it
Oh my god.. this was very very moving, Charles.. those aptly placed metaphors were just too good! I could so clearly picture a woman standing there, waiting for her husband to return.. hoping he will .. while shedding tears of no hope, knowing all too well that he won’t..
Very sad. Having the photo there has an interesting effect on the poem, for me (like who is waiting for him). I can’t imagine much worse than having your loved one missing in action and just never knowing for sure where they were buried or whatever happened.
Read Between the Minds 
the futility of waiting… wise words, and I love the final lines inviting the bereaved to rejoin life:
so come in from those cold memories
and join me around
the warm embers
of existence
I was moved by the words of your poem.
That’s a hard hitting one my friend and so right for Pearl harbor day. Remembering that men wont come home from that war or others is a pain – how do we endure it
another excellent piece
moon Smiles
I like this one very much, slp. Nice poignancy on a chilly sleepless night.
So sad. Thank goodness for:
“so come in from those cold memories
and join me around
the warm embers
of existence”
Oh my god.. this was very very moving, Charles.. those aptly placed metaphors were just too good! I could so clearly picture a woman standing there, waiting for her husband to return.. hoping he will .. while shedding tears of no hope, knowing all too well that he won’t..
Absolutely beautiful! (sniff sniff)
I found some of your lines here amazingly beautiful my friend:
“waiting with ribbons of tears”
“so come in from those cold memories and join me around
the warm embers of existence”
WOW!!
Easier said than done, I think, to move on.
It is okay to let go… in fact it’s healthy!
Then it becomes easier to go on, yourself — memories are powerful elixers!!! ;-))
it first broke the heart by her pain then it mended it by your affection.
beautiful poem Charles.
well spoken, and well said… as usual
Amazing and powerful, each word hits the message home. Outstanding!
Very sad. Having the photo there has an interesting effect on the poem, for me (like who is waiting for him). I can’t imagine much worse than having your loved one missing in action and just never knowing for sure where they were buried or whatever happened.
I really liked this poem. the emotion of telling people not to wait for those who are already gone really came through.
Best to remember each person while alive. Then move forward with yours.
life itself is an endless wait for somethig or somebody……..
woe to the endless wait
… and Pearl Harbor didn’t end it all …it’s just endless.
Well done expression of the futility of it all.
Love the last few lines, powerful, experience life again.