How It Is

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Fri, 19 Jun 2009
  • 2915 reads
20 comments
 

He was posted to Basra,
Royal Engineers
Parachute Squadron;
flew high
above the shifting sands.

Knew a thing or two
about explosives...
until a landmine
blew him to bits.

Her back home
stacked shelves
part-time at Tesco –
raised the twins.

Washed and ironed sheets
fresh for their beds,
tucked them in at nights,
baked cheese scones
for their teas.

Each evening at six
took a cloth
from the drawer,
set the table for four.

It took her years
to kick the habit.
His mates call him a hero.
They call her a widow
who tries to make
ends meet.

Certificate 15
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Opinion

Comments

Submitted by Jupiter on
Another very smooth and interesting piece. I like the way you deliver the pain "set the table for four. It took her years to kick the habit." almost without saying it (at least it appears that way to me) and hope to learn from it ;-)

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Jupiter, thank you for reading and your as always, in-depth comment. Much appreciated. Tina

 

Submitted by Cavalcader on
Silver-Spun-Sand this sounds true life lost Love way you have put it to-gether. in our time relative be shell shocked. We must pray particularly "Helmand" for uniforms and vehicles bullet proof vests and equipment to be 1OO% safe so many died it seems. Pray+ Peace to come. julie God bless

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Julie - good morning to you and thank you for reading this. I would echo your comment, 'Pray and Peace to come.' Tina:-)

 

Submitted by Ewan on
Again the understatement in one of your poems is what makes it so powerful. There is real poignancy in the mundane images of cheese scones, stacking shelves, whilst the table-setting is deeply moving. Is this a repost? regards Ewan

Gibbous House:  Ewan's First Novel
No Good Deed :  Ewan's Second Novel "the same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse"

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thanks, Ewan. Yes, this is a re-work, which I was moved so to do, by watching last night's episode of 'Occupation'. It meant a late night, but most of us would-be poets are night owls, or seem to be. You have a good memory:-) Tina

 

Submitted by yrene on
I like this one Tina! I think there may be real stories as such.. (^_^) best regards, yReNe

(^_^)
best regards,
yReNe

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Yrene - well thank you;-) I guess when one gets to my age there isn't much I can write about that hasn't happened in my life. Glad you enjoyed my poem. Warm regards, TiNa;-)

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
I remember you posting this before, dear Tina - and I'm glad it's got a cherry this time round! Very reminiscent of Owen, the way it pokes at patriotism - and quite rightly so! Magic xxx

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Magic - I apologise. I seem to have got you out of order;-) Never mind, better late than never, or so they say. Thank you for reading and I think you might very well be right! Tina xxx

 

Submitted by Bradene on
I remember this one, it quite took my breath away the first time around and did so again this time. Beautifully written Tina. Love Val x

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Val - many thanks and I hope you have a good weekend;-) Tina xx

 

Submitted by sunshine on
It was the setting the table which got me. Simple, but so strong. Margot

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
I thank you, Margot, very much. Tina

 

Submitted by DraxB on
very nicely and sensitively portrayed

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Thank you, Drax. Good of you to read and to comment so positively. Tina:-)

 

Submitted by anipani on
Powerful, stirs the soul. well done.

anipani

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
My sincere thanks, not only for you taking the trouble to read, but also to comment so positively;-) Tina

 

Submitted by ashb on
Thanks for this Tina. War is a tough subject to write about and here you've found a way to approach it. Proves the adage that truth is in the details -- If I've remembered that expression right - there is a more religious version too ;) ashb

ashb

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
ashb - many thanks to you for reading;-) You are right in what you say about war, of course. There is always more than one side to anything and the harder one looks, the more facets there become. Tina