My Name on His Tongue: Poems

intentions

103 intentions eyes lock mine on his or his on mine I’m not sure who started it American so proud that he added two more years to the two years he already served overseas leaving his business wife two sons classmates/teammates of my older child which is how I know him but I don’t really know him barely speak to him because of his aloofness or shyness or affiliations it doesn’t matter not everyone can be best friends he’s back now from Qatar or Jordan or Iraq or whichever Arab country he was sent to where I have friends or family 104 but this time I see him changed more permanent somehow like he figured out how to tattoo America inside his clear blue eyes that stare deep not with lust or friendship deeper than that, more under the skin he’s looking for recognition wants us to thank him for all that he’s doing for us suggests a friend I don’t see that when our eyes meet lock crash I feel fingers probing for my heart or blood or soul like he wants to say something about where he was what he saw something important and he knows that I will listen that I can debrief him for a minute I catch myself watching him not my youngest son who runs in front of him 105 just as he kicks a soccer ball sending him head over heels he gently picks up my sobbing child holds him tightly so sorry for what he’s done when I take my son out of his arms I cannot look in the soldier’s face not until later when the tears are dried he is watching, smiling not with lust or friendship but with satisfaction like someone who just climbed a mountain because it was there ...