In My Green Backyard
© by Jay Harden
The war changed me;
It could not you.
I woke in smoke
And thunder,
A world shattering
At the edge of life.
Not you, kept small
By the fright
Of less innocent me.
Afraid of myself,
I did not tell you No
When I should,
Fearing the end
Of our loving life.
Afraid of myself,
I did not tell you Yes,
Reasoning away my
Passion dreams with you,
Afraid to lose
Our deep cherishing.
We went as far
As we could together;
Not as far
As I had to go.
You left me the freedom
To grow or die,
To live each truth
Or keep each lie.
That was your gift
By going.
We added good love
To this planet,
The best and most we had.
Our love took you
To higher places,
And me to
Making love to life
In my green backyard.
August 20, 2008
El Paso, Texas