A LAST WISH

Hello my friend, my dearest friend,
The one who had to die.
I think of you until this day,
And I begin to cry.

There are no words of wisdom,
No nothing I can say,
About the day God came for you
And took you far away.

Clutched in your hand so tightly,
Were letters from you're past.
You took them to be with you,
You knew they had to last.

You had a message for your girl,
As you took you're dying breath,
I promised that I'd deliver it
but couldn't fill the task.

So many years have gone by;
Names change and people die.
I ask you, my dear friend above,
Please help end this plight.

©Copyright November 23, 2005 by Maureen A. Brigante

Author’s Note: This poem is about Andy's friend Ronnie, who died in his arms, and it describes Ronnie's last words and wish. The only details that Andy can remember is that a mine went off and hit Ronnie in the chest, blowing him apart. In his hand, he held an ammo box. The ammunition had all been used up, but there was letters from his girl, Roseanne, inside. He died still clutching that box by his side.

Ronnie asked Andy to tell Roseanne that he loved her; that was his last wish. We all knew each other in Brooklyn, New York. When Andy came home he just couldn't bring himself to see the family. He always said, "I'll go one day."

If I had known than what I know now, I would have gone and given them the message and told them that Ronnie didn't die alone. By the way, I did go to the funeral but Andy was still in Viet Nam and hadn't yet told me of his promise.

We'll, here it is almost 39 years later, and now we can't find them. I still don't know if Andy could confront them; he just breaks down and cries when he mentions the incident, and so do I. Guess we just have to put it in God's hands; if it's meant to be we will find them one day.

Maureen A. Brigante
December 23, 2005