the stale smoke lingered
long after he left—
a vice no doubt acquired
somewhat innocently
in youth--denigrating plague
now in old age--

he spoke of Heidelberg,
Kaiserslautern and Munich
of sweet years of service
in the 60’s and 70’s
before the dollar lost value,
and the service, prestige--

his granddaughter
failing history--absences--
neither bright nor ambitious:
but this farm boy from Utah still
pays the price (too for me),
and I must not forget.

02/19/2009

Author's Note: parent-teacher conference with a vet from Portage

Posted on 02/19/2009
Copyright © 2025 Leonard M Hawkes