Written for the Honoring Our Veteran's Forum Monthly contest. QUILL Winner 2023! |
The Lonely Man Who Sat Alone There was a man who’d sit alone on the beach No one approached him, for he was out of reach Many tried to befriend him, he’d sit there alone It seemed the beach was his, a place he called home If asked about his past, he’d say “I’m a Veteran.” No elaboration, he never let strangers in His world was one that few could comprehend His memories were treasured, not shared, too many lost men He sat alone, his mind drifting, yet often out of breath Memories of battles, lives saved, and yes, he knew death None tried to enter his private world, except one A woman who loved him, before his world became undone Julie was her name, to her this was no game, t’was life Long ago they had plans to wed, she would be his wife He lived in a hellish world, full of demons from his past She loved him all the same, knowing this would not last One day he looked at her, saw the girl he loved so much Marveled at their love, that they had never lost touch He looked in her eyes, surprised to see hers brimming with tears Whispered, “I know you’ve loved me all these many years.” From that day on, no one saw them together, A storm had passed, so had they, like the weather No one knew where they had gone or how they had left When thinking of them, their minds were simply bereft If asked about the couple, no one had an answer No one remembered him being a romancer, None witnessed their love, them meeting on the coast It’s no wonder, for who has seen a pair of ghosts? Jim Dorrell 3/1/23 292 words, 28 Lines |