THE WALL
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Washington, D.C.
by John J. Dunphy
a rose tem taped over a name petals lying on the ground
four middle-age men dressed in worn fatigues huddle together and cry
fingering his name a young woman tries to recall her father
straining to read a name he lifts himself a few inches from his wheelchair
removing her wedding ring she brushes it along her husband's name
son of an MIA the flag pin on his lapel upside-down
woman touches a name while looking at an old photo
elderly couple their faces reflected over their son's name
man in a filthy army jacket tries to scratch on his name
a candle left burning on the ground its flame almost out
(originally published in the November 1988 and Winter 1991 issues of Frogpond)
Copyright John J. Dunphy, 1988