Fresh and new,
Waiting on the shelf.
The Beret, hunter green,
pillowy with felt.
The Flash
Yellow, red, white, and blue
Sits atop the table.
Rank beside, everything askew.
Dull and smudged,
the Jump Boots remain.
The event is tomorrow,
time wanes away.
Needle and thread,
golden yellow, a border match.
Do these hands remain?
Turn by turn, catch by catch
Midnight thirty
the sewing done.
Thumbs pricked, blood drawn,
Beret and Flash are One.
Rag and brush
glowing heels and toes
One A.M.
Ready to wear. Soon, time to go.
Sleep and morning
Boots laced and tied
Dark blue jacket, ribbons
and badges, side by side
Green Beret
There she patiently sits
Flash sewn on, rank affixed
shaved and formed. Ready.
18 months,
together again
Green Beret donned.
First loves, reconciled.
_____________________________
Marshall McGurk served nearly five years with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) after a stint with the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). He enjoys scotch, cigars, good books, foreign films, and critical thinking. He is passionate about international relations, domestic affairs, and successful veteran transition.
He serves in the Army Reserve. Email him at mtmcgurk@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter.
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on September 2, 2018.
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