Hero’s Highway

Hero’s Highway; Iraq (Photo credit: Brandon Tull)

 
HERO’S HIGHWAY

Some who passed
through this tunnel were
carried. And
some did the
carrying. One thing is true:
They are all heroes.

2013-11-11 (Veterans Day)
P. Wanken

 

 

 

 

Written for Poetic Bloomings #128: Heroes Proved.  Also shared at “100 Days of Fall/Winter 2013.”  Also shared at Poetic Asides (2013 Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge Day 11: ekphrastic poetry).

** This tent was constructed as a connector between a helipad and the doors to the ER of a Base Hospital in Iraq. It became known as Hero’s Highway.

A Barista’s Blues

 
A BARISTA’S BLUES

I
find
that I
keep looking
at the clock, waiting
for her arrival at seven.
I wonder if she knows she’s the bright spot of my day.

Each
day
I get
another
piece of her puzzle.
New information is added
to what I already learned about her yesterday.

She
used
to be
a stranger.
With each cup I’ve filled,
she has filled me with pieces of
her life—the person hiding behind those baby blues.

2013-11-06
P. Wanken

 

Written for Poetic Asides (2013 Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge Day 6: Another’s Perspective).  Also shared at “100 Days of Fall/Winter 2013.”

The Last Time I Was Here

 
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE

we said our
goodbyes, with plans set
for me to
return soon.
A week later was too soon…
but not soon enough.

2013-11-06
P. Wanken

 

Written for Poetic Asides (2013 Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge Day 3: The Last Time I Was Here).  Also shared at “100 Days of Fall/Winter 2013.”

Fax Cover Sheet

 
FAX COVER SHEET

Words. Naked,
ex-
posed, ‘til covered.

2013-11-05
P. Wanken

 

Written for Poetic Asides (2013 Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge Day 4: ____ Sheet).  Also shared at “100 Days of Fall/Winter 2013.”

Piecing Together A Motive

 
PIECING TOGETHER A MOTIVE

Senseless crime.
What
were they thinking?

2013-11-02
P. Wanken

Author’s Note: I went to CNN.com and used the first headline I saw as my title. I didn’t even read the story…didn’t need to.

 

Written for Poetic Asides (Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge Day 2: News Of The Day).  Also shared at “100 Days of Fall/Winter 2013.”