"The Making and Un-making of a Marine"

for William Blutig 03/27/09

Good Night, Sweetheart
by Larry Winters

At first I thought he’d confused me with my wife, his daughter,

when he said, “Good night, sweetheart.”

But they kept coming, each night on the phone.

I thank God he’d forgotten how to speak to a man.

Where the dawn meets day is a window where souls take flight.

Some stay awakes all night waiting.

Some sleep deep enough feeling no bump between worlds.

From the hull to the upper deck a lone sailor climbs the stories of his life,

lingering on each rung hoping no one sees he’s

slowing to savor between gasps of fear.

The long arc of the anchor line rises from the ocean floor.

The ship to shore radio grows faint,

semaphores too far away to read.

Steadily the battleships prow cuts the sea.

Rose dawn rises over the bow.

Stars stream the sides of the ship.

Good night, sweetheart.

William Blutig died Friday, March 27, 2009 at the VA Hospital
in Brooklyn, NY. Bill Blutig enlisted into the US Army and served in....    

And he was my  father-in-law.