Silver Wings

"Silver Wings" played and we danced so close
I could smell the sweet scent of your uniform.
Strong arms held me tight

You were flying back to
Ft. Bragg in the morning
Merle's words pierced my heart

I couldn't bear to let you go
So I held on tighter
and tears flowed down my cheeks

I was a child of seventeen
You weren't much older at twenty-one
Vietnam war was raging

Only three days married is not long enough
To discover what a woman should know
So we danced and sang along with the song

Time has weathered
your 82nd Airborne wings
embedded into your stone

I brought flowers and a fresh flag
Merle Haggard's voice from my phone sings
"Silver Wings". I hold myself and dance.