The Veteran
Published in
Jan 14, 2022
His dream eye flutters
in its fitful sleep
the Paisley quilt follows
its sudden wave —
a fraction later he murmurs
while foam
forms a small stream.
She has seen both the
dryness & the water
the gas from the battlefield —
often hearing him scream
as the night hawks
circle the wreckage.
If only he could talk
she tells herself
hoping God resides in the
unconscious with him.
She determined long ago
to stand firm, though softly
beside her man who will
ever walk alone.
Copyright Simon Heathcote 2022
