Memorial Day

He sat and watched
with others as some
tried to make do
with what they had
in the large room
the sun shining through
the open windows
on Memorial Day
at the nursing home
a few were brave enough
to speak up and tell their stories
but he remained silent
and wondered if any would know
that a B-25 was a Mitchell
and that he had once flown over
Burma
and not much later
over so many tiny islands
that he couldn't remember names
that he'd never known
but the island hopping
as they called the campaign
was always with him
as he remembers
for another day
that it was those down below
fighting on those jungle islands
the ones that survived
those were the ones
that earned the right
not
to remain silent.

Gathering on the Porch

With nothing to do
some sat in their chairs
others paced the length
of the porch
while the light breeze
cooled the noontime sun
words were few
but thoughts were many
some down to earth
others among the stars
a few were so abstract
that a stick of chalk
was used to describe
the invisible structure
of the universe
on the weathered planks
of the porch
as others came to see
underfoot
how the sun warps
space-time
so that the Earth
moves around it
in circles.