Mother was a war bride

Post by **Mollie** » March 22nd, 2016, 8:12 am

His wings took him
spotting for other wings
in far off places
while she remembered his bright eyes
and not much else.

Looking over horizons
for signs of his return
anguish grew in time with her belly
until a tattered telegram,
I have it still,
arrived with the baby.

Missing in Action
Disbelief
POW
Utter relief

Three years later
water brought him home
wearing a dull stare.
A stranger embraced a stranger
holding a child’s hand
as all hope flew away in those moments.
©

Post by **dwells** » March 23rd, 2016, 8:33 am

A sorrowful reunion that could have been so much more... people change and are changed. Cheers Mollie! - Dan

Post by **Mollie** » March 25th, 2016, 5:23 am

Thanks Dan for reading my poem and commenting.

Post by **JASON** » April 8th, 2016, 8:42 am

Fantastic work Mollie.
A spectacular ending.
so you were the baby??

Post by **Agentlenihilist** » April 12th, 2016, 5:15 pm

"A stranger embraced a stranger
holding a child’s hand"

I feel like there is much more that is meant to be read in to those two lines, no? That the lack of a mentioning of embrace for the child upon the reunion of the two strangers holds much significance. Sorry for analyzing.

Post by **Sylvierue** » April 14th, 2016, 11:37 pm

My mother experienced something similar when my father went to Vietnam. I think young love is difficult enough to master and when a separation through violence intervenes the gulf becomes all the wider.

I love the sense you give of both parties being altered by the experience. Because this is so true. Though one leaves and the other stays life and its challenges continue and shape those under their umbrella. Being a single parent is ever a challenge, add in the prospect and worry of a lost spouse and the challenges amplify, shaping the world around them. I think you did a beautiful job telling two stories here. There is rarely just one when people are living parallel lives.

Post by **miharu** » July 11th, 2018, 11:50 am

I love the imagery in the first stanza. A beautiful, sobering write. Congratulations on the spotlight!

Post by **rupertpupkin** » July 12th, 2018, 3:10 pm

This is a wonderful poem and most deserving of a spotlight. Loved it. Well done with this.

Post by **Mollie** » August 6th, 2018, 6:30 pm

Thank you! This is a belated message of thanks; I apologise.

Mother was a war bride

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