She worked on the burn wards
or so I understand -
she soothed parched and cracking lips
far from that Asian land....
She comforted and calmed them
she sometimes held a hand
she served on the burn wards,
neuro wards, other wards
not in Vietnam.
And the horror is still with her
and this, I understand.
She says some don’t include her
they don’t consider her a vet,
I shake my head in wonder,
why this is so, and yet -
I shouldn’t be surprised
that some are not accepting,
and some just can’t forget…
The men delivered to her ward
were seared inside the soul;
Someone’s son was one of them,
burned, or sad, not whole.
Heartbeats away from Vietnam
she held someone’s hand -
and someone’s mother blessed her -
or so I understand.