By Kindred_spirit49
Date: 2003 Apr 25
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[[2003.04.25.18.35.26535]]

Tonight

tonight....again....
you sought me out
......on hands and knees
seeking my tortured soul
as I huddled against the far distant thunder
of the ugly red and green memories
.....of Vietnam
etched into eternal images of my darkest nights

you spoke softly to me of love and life
and of all things that mattered
your words touching the intense shadowed thoughts and fears
of the never ending nights
still thick with terror
your finger tips  lightly tracing my heart
as we cried for my lost youth.

.....the heavy jaded mists of misplaced guilt
served to me on a silver platter of patriotism
by the specter of death
who is now clothed in the black shrouds of my mind
visions frozen in the gold leaf framed photos
of the archaic combat of Vietnam
that still reaches out to disrupt
the rights and reason of the rationale thought
contained within this weary warrior

as on this rain drenched night
...Vietnam......
runs like tears from the open wounds of my eyes
sticking to  everything I own
as it discolors all that I know and perceive as truth

I cling to the sanctity of your absolute acceptance
.........cradled in your arms.....
I am protected from the demons lurking within
spilling forth from a lifetime ago.

with my head curled to your breast
you murmur the soft soothing words that only a lover may speak

tonight......
you are my sanity......my hero....

and forever........
you are my love