September 1966-September 1968 RIP

 

After our tearful parting

We promised to marry 

And live happily ever after. . . 

Letters for fourteen months of you

filling out job applications 

And, hearing from family,“what about Viet Nam?”

Letters for fourteen months of you 

getting transcripts translated 

And, hearing from friends, “what about Viet Nam?”

Letters for fourteen months of  you

interviewing others about working in USA 

And, hearing from associates, “what about Viet Nam?”

Letters for fourteen months of you

trying to uproot your life to move here 

And, hearing from Kneipverein,“ what about Viet Nam?”

Letters for fourteen months of you

trying so hard to save our relationship 

And, hearing from board members, ”what about Viet Nam?”

One last letter from you about

going to the consulates in Munich and Berlin

And, finding out about Viet Nam.

I didn’t have the strength to write you back

When you said it wasn’t going to work out:

You would be drafted to fight in Viet Nam.

I didn’t have the courage to say

I would rather you be alive and out of reach

Than dead in Viet Nam.

I was too consumed with my own hurt 

To respond with “Thank you for trying so hard.

I’m going to miss you. I love you. Good bye.”

And 57 years later it haunts me.

I never said “Auf Wiedersehen.. . . . “