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.

[KAREN]

This is very sad and full of emotions wich was expressed perfectly!!

[Julie Beth]

this is amazing it has a lot of emotion and you did an amazing job with this piece great job :)

[Escape My Fate]

Good emotion, great job :)

[Cynthia]

Very true, I really love this.
I love the emotion you put in, and the idea and concept of this poem!

[kaylynnmelody♥]

this was heartfelt,and really beautiful. MIA is such an uncertain fate for someone and for everyone back home. Thanks for the read request!

[No regret]

very true , Loved this 1 . thanx for share .

Wow..
I'm speechless with this one!
You did an excellent job with the details and internal struggling.
You're a very talented writer.
Keep it up! :)

[G. K. Bostic]

With a son serving in Afghanistan, I find this topic especially heart wrenching. I"m active in the American Legion Auxiliary, and at the legion we have a symbolic POW/MIA table which is a constant reminder of how so many have suffered what the speaker in your poem has suffered. Very insightful piece.

[cfix]

I really enjoyed the emotion you put into this write. I found this really touching really. Very well written write.

[EmpressPoetess]

truly touching piece. I can say I relate, it tears deeply at the heart. I lost my mom and a sister 12 months apart..........great writing.