Vietnam Memorial (The Wall)

I visited the memorial soon after its dedication. It stunned me on first viewing. A large black gash in the earth, shaped like a flying vee, barely a foot high at either end, and over twelve feet tall at the intersection of the two walls. Names, thousands upon thousands of names chiseled in the polished black granite.

black stone scars green grass
 polished granite a mirror
 the living, the dead.

 

 

 

 

Awestruck, I followed the path down into the earth, looking for 1968. The most American deaths occurred that year, my first 'in country', so it took some time to find the first name I recognized. As I faced it I saw myself in the mirror of black granite, grown older, the sky and clouds behind me, and in my mind an image of that long dead boy...

 

 

 

a boy's name, chiseled
into polished black granite
old man's reflection

 

 

 

 

Memories flooded in, and I realized I was weeping. I glanced around anxiously, hoping no one noticed, and saw tears on many faces. I reached up and traced the name with my fingers...

 

 

 

 

touch the name

memories flood through me

no barrier between

arm in arm, old and young

no distance or time intrudes 

 

 

 

 

I return to the wall often to visit my young friends... 



 

 

 

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