Home

For a loved one.

I read the letter at our table
where once you sat with me.
where once I sat with you.
where once we sat.
together.
once.

I watch the rain
fall
on wet earth:

The rain
in which we used to run.
You held me in your arms,
and walked through mud,
to keep my feet clean
coming home.

I hear the rain
hit
the roof:

The rain
you heard
when the ground was muddy,
the artillery was slippery
and you couldn’t keep a strong enough grip.

I feel the rain
soothe
my hot cheeks:

The rain
you felt
on your cold cheeks,
when they broke apart the tags,
sent one to your commanding officer,
placed the other between your upper
and your lower teeth,
and then
kicked
shut your jaw,
to keep everything in place
on the way
home.