More than a name on the wall

 More than a name on the wall

I became the old soldier in the tavern now. Drinking with the  ghosts of memories. I buy two whiskeys and two cold beers and I talk to missed friends. The bartender leave me alone because the leftover men come here often to question, why did I live and my friends couldn't?

USA build a new wall. I found the new wall and I see names of two Michigan men, I served with, my friends. The new wars is stealing from my world. Old soldiers ask often, when will these damn wars end? 

I remember in September 2004. Good friend of many years didn't return my phone calls or letters. I called his parent and the mother gave the phone to the father. He told me. Don was killed in Iraq in August 2004.  I thanks the father and I hung the phone-up.

I went to my bedroom, I fell apart and I cried for a good man. I didn't know what to feel or do.

I found  his children and his new wife. Dear wife organized for me to visit my friend's parent and family.  I gather with his father and mother near by his grave. He was in a soldier graveyard. In the early days of Spring, the wildflowers and dandelions surrounded his grave. I left them be. My friend was a country boy who loved the forest. He would had liked the wildflowers and the dandelions. I said a goodbye, touched the grave stone and I stood back. I saluted my friend. I remember me and his mother, she hugged me and we cried together.

I would return a year later, six pack of Miller lite, his favorite beer and I sat near his gravestone. I touched some flowers left by one of his daughters and I told him. The world is less without you my friend. Your parent and brothers/sisters were kind to me. I told them stories about you. I told them how you never gave-up, loved your daughters and the crazy thing we did. I told them about the good days and the bad days. I remember traveling with you the four hour drive to pick-up your children in North Carolina. You only trusted me with your girls and our children grew-up together. I know you would tell me, man-up John, get-up and go forward. Please ensure my girl are okay and please tell them. Their father loved them more than anything.

Today been almost 16 years and I touched his name, surrounded by so many good men and good women. A Vietnam vet, old timer came to me. He saw the sadness in my face and he wrapped his arm around me. He told me, they are more than names on a lonely wall. Us, who lived. We are the reminders, the people that are leftover to tell stories of men and women who once lived. We must ensure their children, their family know. These men and women were part of our world once. He showed me the soldier's  table and he told me. I am a old man and I will join my brothers in heaven or in hell at the soldier table. We will laugh together again, we will drink the whisky and talk till we cannot. I thanks him and I walked away in silence.

Thank you for reading and take care and be safe my friend. Hard days are here and we will overcome. This is our world and we are tougher then we believe.

                  Dancing Coyote

Author's Note

Some words.

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

John! I wrote a whole long response ...hit submit .. and apparently it was wisked away into the Twilight Zone ...so maddening ... at any rate ... great story telling as always .. i enjoy your "voice" .... sorry about the loss of your good friend ... happy you were able to connect with his family and were welcomed in by them ... i believe he sees you, Johnny ... and is happy you care about his daughters .. i agree with you..we are a strong people, as varied as we are ... covid 19 will diminish into its place with all the other bugs out there in the world ... my own opinion is that its time to start getting back to our working lives ... bring some more of our businesses back to America ... you be well brother ... i feel the sadness ... the loss ... war creates a brotherhood that is hard to understand unless one experiences it .. but your prose and the simplicity and depth are moving ... i feel you sir ... love the way you put words together
E.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and the comment. Certain times of the year. I remember the old faces.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes... i know just what you mean .. its an internal clock that goes off automatically :( and we remember them .. which is such a good thing

[barleygirl]

Since you mention the wall I have to mention that covid deaths, over 180,000 now, are three times the American deaths in the Vietnam war & these people won't get a wall. They won't get s**t. Hardly anybody remembers people are still dying at 1000 per day! I don't say this to minimize the Vietnam sacrifice, which is considerable. Anyhow, this is the most heartfelt thing I've read from you. You are one of the most open, honest, caring people at the cafe, in terms of the way you consistently show your caring nature in everything you write. You really brought us into this picture as you told the story with so much emotion! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

Coronaviras is a new war. A ghost that killed the old and sickly. I pray we keep distance and the mask on. Hard days are a-coming dear Margie. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[poetgurl]

Wow, this is touching but yet sad. Quite a write to read, touched my heart really.

[Coyote Poetry]

We must remember old friends. Us, who love to write. We can in story. Thank you Aug-X for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[gram linski]

the way you honour your dead friends and everyone who has lost their lives to war was incredibly moving, Coyote, these guys are more than just names on a wall, your poetry has breathed life into their memory, they would be proud of your fine homage,

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank the singers from the past for remembering. Now we must and thank you my friend for reading and the kind words.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I bet those memories hurt so much...but you are such a caring soul...and we are tougher than we believe.
I firmly accept that., When the chips are down, we find a way.

j.

[Coyote Poetry]

We must Jacob. We must go forward always and thank you my friend for reading and the kind words.