I Will Wait For You

In sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow, I will wait for you.

The letter came that fateful day,

To tear you and I apart.
The weeks before you were forced on your way,
Were a blur of a blackened art.

For months I agonised for your return to date,
In sorrow deep enough for fiction.
Until on the dreaded list I read of your fate:
"Missing In Action"

In years that passed, I waited alone,
While no news came of the part of myself.
Hordes of soldiers were flocking back home,
But your file just gathered dust on the shelf.

I knew not if you were dead or alive,
I knew not what to do.
I had closed my heart, praying you would survive,
To love again, seemed taboo.

Time flew by and my hope began to dwindle,
Though I still clutched at your small chance.
But soon all was left was a flickering candle,
Quivering in its uncertain dance.

What was I to think, I was torn,
Should I love again or retain my faith?
Surrender hope or stay lovelorn,
Or choose another to take your place?

My anguish one morn was put to an end, 
When finally, I learned,
That I had to let go, could not pretend,
For I was awaiting one who would never return.

The letter came that fateful day,
To tear you and I apart.
But 'Nam was not where the fighting truly lay,
The real war was within my heart.

Reviews

[Alessander]

This has the feeling of a ballad, and the repitition of the first stanza (more or less) I think puts this in that genre. It tells a story cleanly, without much obfuscation or elaborate rhetoric or dense diction. The rhymes were solid, I wasn't even bothered by "fiction"/"action" like I normally would be lol

I once read that "A tragedy is never based on a character having to choose between a virtue and a vice, but rather between two competing virtues, like love of family, or love of country" and I found the stanza debating between "faith" and "love", or even "reason" and "emotion" the most interesting part of this piece. The theme "all is fair in love and war" also popped to mind...anyhow, nice write.

The only suggestion I can offer is that you fit this into a proper ballad format, but that's up to you, naturally.

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Very emotive and expressive work that touches on the lives of many who have experienced this or similiar events in their lives..I am glad that I chose this one to read this morning...Sunflower

[hannahspelledbackwards]

I looove the ending to this! Congrats on winning the contest! :)

[E.V. Black]

When I first read this, it just broke my heart. Reading through it again, it struck me more and more how sad and how true a scenario like this actually is. You beautifully and wistfully captured the melancholy of the moment so perfectly. Have you lost someone to a war before? It makes me wonder.
Wonderfully crafted! :D

[..]

really touching write, it's depth & meaning are powerful.

[thoughts of jade]

WOW! this is an amazing poem! its so sad, and i could really feel the emotions you put in this poem... Keep writing and keep up the good work!

[.......]

This is amazing and ever so tugging.
Enjoyable read.

[Cynthia]

I love this poem! One of the best poems you've written! I love the story of this poem, a lost one, a very sad story. I love this a lot! A touching piece of write, and the emotions is over flowing in my heart after reading it!
Nice Job!
( Thanks for submitting it to the contest ' Poems!', good luck =D)

[Katannaism]

This is such a tragic story. The words just engulfed me with this melancholic write. I can really feel the emotion juxtaposed in this. Exquisite work! ;)

[Friend of a Friend]

This is absolutely beautiful and I felt the emotions very deeply. It was a great poem idea and I especially love the last stanza.

[astoundinglyattractive]

this.... is the best poem i have read on the entire site. thank you for beating my poem True Love in the How Love Has Touched You Life contest. becauseotherwise i woul have never got a chance to read it.