​

 

There are no pearls in dazzling see

But silver tears which are frozen

And dropt in that clear silent deep which hides a steadfast tin soldier.

His heart fell from green coral reef out of the edge of the shore zone

Drawn here by the eternity to start the jungle book wild show.

  

                      *

 

I had the body of that boy.

I used his name. I felt his soul.

I had. I used. I felt. I lost.

They passed. I did forget them all.  

 

I don’t remember former forms.

I hear the rest – the sound of ghost:

His scream is leading me through thorns

Into my promised staring coast.    

 

The desert for deserted boys –

Small castaways of their steel boats.

Here I deserted –

Naked boy who casts away on sandy soil…

 

Here I’m marooned to sin alone.

The tide flows.

With the tide I go.

Some waves are high and some are low.

I do not swim.

Nor fly.

I flow.   

 

                        * 

 

It’s my pearl harbor with no pearls but with my grandma’s silver tears:

The peaceful grave of fairy tales entombed here with the rest of me.

My paper heart has its true shape when thrown into the truth of flames;  

It waits alone for ocean wave to rinse my steadfast and tin fame…             

 

 

          

May 30th, 2012  

photo: US Army (Office of War Information) ca March 1945