Billy Doyle
Posted: December 3rd, 2011, 10:39 am
I watched him drag his foot,
cross two lanes of whizzing traffic
with no fanfare place something down
atop the double yellow lines
I instinctively moved my truck
to the side of the highway, watched
him limp out of sight like an apparition
his movement as sad as his dirty trench coat
I ducked sedans, buses, motorcycles
made my way to the center, felt odd
like a voyeur picking up a sacred trust,
an opened envelope staring up like common litter
the postmark still visible through layers
of ancient greasy fingerprints
June 12, 1944, the return address
from a Miss Katie Malloy
curiosity prevailed as I stood in harm's way
time stopped......traffic did not,
I began to tremble as I removed a fragile
tarnished paper from its oft handled jacket
" Dear Billy", I could feel the heartbreak coming
like a locomotive, just these two lonely words,
" this war has taken its toll on you soldiers
in ways unimaginable to majors and generals
Do they know of the causalities at home
away from the foreign battlefields, do they
feel the lives destroyed without weapons
from over the buffering oceans of malcontent
I regret that I can no longer honor my pledge,
But please know my love will always be deep.
Our relationship is no longer practical, but know
as well, I am grateful for your contribution."
cross two lanes of whizzing traffic
with no fanfare place something down
atop the double yellow lines
I instinctively moved my truck
to the side of the highway, watched
him limp out of sight like an apparition
his movement as sad as his dirty trench coat
I ducked sedans, buses, motorcycles
made my way to the center, felt odd
like a voyeur picking up a sacred trust,
an opened envelope staring up like common litter
the postmark still visible through layers
of ancient greasy fingerprints
June 12, 1944, the return address
from a Miss Katie Malloy
curiosity prevailed as I stood in harm's way
time stopped......traffic did not,
I began to tremble as I removed a fragile
tarnished paper from its oft handled jacket
" Dear Billy", I could feel the heartbreak coming
like a locomotive, just these two lonely words,
" this war has taken its toll on you soldiers
in ways unimaginable to majors and generals
Do they know of the causalities at home
away from the foreign battlefields, do they
feel the lives destroyed without weapons
from over the buffering oceans of malcontent
I regret that I can no longer honor my pledge,
But please know my love will always be deep.
Our relationship is no longer practical, but know
as well, I am grateful for your contribution."
