Writing on the Wall

[couchgrouch]

Writing on the WallAn old man shook my hand in the hardware storesaid he was Dad's shopteacher in '64right before Dad joined the Corps. he looked just like mewell, I went home and sat till evening fellstared at the old chessboard on the shelfDad had carved the pieces himself and mailed it from overseasthen I looked up at the photoin an 8 x 10 framesaw a young Marine in cammo greensand that picture becamewriting on the wall only hearts can seelike the hands of fate n time wrote ev'ry line for meoh...the writing on the walldrove north all night with a clenched up fistthrough the windshield was a face in the mistfunny...sometimes that face was his sometimes it was minethe Potomac wind blew cold that daywidows and mothers wiped icy tears awaysome left photos and bouquets but loss can't be left behindin my fist was a chesskingI cleaned off the tears n dustwithout the mem'ry of his fam'ly's loveDad's name was justwriting on the wall only hearts can seelike the hands of fate n time wrote ev'ry line for meoh...the writing on the wallI grew up with the freedom he fought for but without him I felt like a prisoner of warno...I never made peace with it alltill I saw the writing on the wall(c)2006 Robert George