MY SISTERS

Where were you so many years ago

So long ago when I felt nobody knew

Nobody would understand or listen

I told nobody what I went through

I loved my husband and stood by him

Even when I wanted to flee

Flee the horrible nightmares

There was nobody to stand by me

I thought it was just my Rich

I thought I could love him back to me

He came home from war alive

With half his mind across the sea

I carried it all alone, and inside

Nobody ever knew about the night

About the horror of his nightmares

When I was the enemy he had to fight

Where were you so many years ago

Somewhere you were living my life

Loving and staying and almost living

The life of a Vietnam wife

My husband is gone, yours remains

I remember those paths I wandered

I read your words and my heart aches

Sometimes I can only be silent and ponder

Ponder what life would be like for you

If he should go and you remain

Would you know how to live just for you

Would you know how to live without pain

Where were you so may years ago

How I wish I would have known you

Just someone to understand

To understand what I was going through

Yet you have helped me to continue on

To understand it wasn't me

No matter how hard I tried

From his nightmares he couldn't be free

He is gone and I remain

But I no longer walk alone

I walk with my sisters and his brothers

And with them a bond has grown

Yes my Rich is free and I still live

In the aftermath of his war

Now I know you did the best you could

Even when you cursed and swore

I know I didn't cause your pain

And I couldn't fix it all for you

But I stayed and loved and comforted

Like all of us Vietnam wives do.

Now we have found each other

A bond that cannot be severed

A bond between Vietnam Wives

A bond as tight as between brothers

We didn't walk their walk in war

But we lived such similar lives

We are sisters and we are proud

And we are forever, The Vietnam Wives

Mary Rogers

© Nov. 28, 2007