battle weary

one scarred cheek

face of mud

leg torn apart

rescued by foes

tortured

thrown into

prison camp

finally three

long years later

allowed home

half starved

at the end

of hostilities.

 

wife already

had someone

hardly recognised

the husband

she had kissed

goodbye to all

those years ago.

 

it was more

than he could bear

to see her

with another

moved away

new area

no one knew

no one

understood

all he had

suffered.

 

a recluse now

of mature years

damaged soul

so full of

bitter memories

unspeakable horrors.

his mind eaten up

all the more

when he thinks

of the baby

he left behind

now thirty-two.