Having just spent the weekend with my 84-year-old veteran father, I continue
to rethink the meaning of Memorial Day. Your poem's "thin cold metal" helped me do so–what a tangible way of feeling war, that simple cold memento ever-present and in such close contact / conflict with the human heart.
Made me think: once a soldier, always a soldier. Even a peaceful soldier.
I am hesitant to comment on haiku with a military subject – or at least such poems that one sees published on Tinywords. To my mind such works, like the heroism of the ordinary men and women who place their lives on the line in times of war, should be received with reverence and gratitude – almost with a bowed head. Which puts me in mind of the slight, unconscious bow of the head when a soldier puts on their dog tags.
Margaret Chula, thank you for sharing your profound memorial day poem.
dog-tags –
all that remains of his
armour and shield
May 26th, 2014 at 11:53 am
Very poignant. For my friends who didn't make it, thank you.
May 26th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Having just spent the weekend with my 84-year-old veteran father, I continue
to rethink the meaning of Memorial Day. Your poem's "thin cold metal" helped me do so–what a tangible way of feeling war, that simple cold memento ever-present and in such close contact / conflict with the human heart.
Made me think: once a soldier, always a soldier. Even a peaceful soldier.
May 26th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
I really love this. It captures my own experience as an army medic. Thank you.
May 27th, 2014 at 3:11 am
This brought back some memories of my Ex husband who is still in the army… Thanks for the poem.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:17 pm
I find this so moving.All the sorry of war seems to be there in so few words which makes it even more powerful.
May 27th, 2014 at 8:48 am
An eloquent haiku for Memorial Day. So spare and moving.
May 28th, 2014 at 4:07 am
I am hesitant to comment on haiku with a military subject – or at least such poems that one sees published on Tinywords. To my mind such works, like the heroism of the ordinary men and women who place their lives on the line in times of war, should be received with reverence and gratitude – almost with a bowed head. Which puts me in mind of the slight, unconscious bow of the head when a soldier puts on their dog tags.
Margaret Chula, thank you for sharing your profound memorial day poem.
dog-tags –
all that remains of his
armour and shield
Strider