You Did Your Part; We Miss All of You
This black wall
engraved on my fingertips...
names
names
names
names
my fingertips graze intaglio
a wound
blood-soaked
raw
pull out muscle and sinew
bone black
anti-birth
feel America's heartbeat in endless names
tiny names
Screaming to see with human eyes
the Grandchild kneeling in tears
Screaming to touch with human hands
the mother sobbing "Unfair!"
The football he left in the yard
waiting.
The now a man
then a baby
he will never
hold bathe cuddle tickle raise.
the empty breasts bed legs a-tangled up in nothingness
empty arms at home...
The tall dark friend with big broad Marine shoulders
shaved head-do trembling with faintly wilted red bouquet in made for ball
hands
sun-drenched
Made a trek across the country to see one simple name - to honor one life
(precious)...
Feel American's heartbeat pounding out through a wall -
surrounded by flowers and light
(Passion)
a heart beating truth
in a pair of baby shoes
(so fragile)
Grown into combat boots
Marching off to war.
No More.

Cathleen Schandelmeier