The picture hangs in sepia,
there’s you and November
frozen in my mind.
I couldn’t cross the oceans
not then, not now,
Afghanistan was long ago
Kuwait would follow,
time blew you all over
the map.
Distant and dangerous
the Army and November.
Branches that stretch,
branches that separate
the leaves blow away.
But, Thanksgiving for all soldiers
who fly safely home and stay.
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub – November Poetics, hosted by Sanaa Rizvi.
November brings memories of my husband’s deployments after 9/11
Tricia Sankey 
This is achingly beautiful, Tricia! 💝 I especially love; “Branches that stretch,
branches that separate the leaves blow away,” it describes the complexity of the emotions which are felt so well. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt 🙂
Thanks, Sanaa! It was just the right prompt. I’m enjoying reading all the beautiful poems on November.
These must have been tough times for you, Tricia. I hope you have your husband now safely home to stay!
Yes, he’s got his 20 years so can officially retire, but wants to stay in the reserves a while longer. It was an experience!
I can’t even begin to imagine! You must be very strong 😊
I think it just becomes a way of life for a while, all the moving and the time apart. Thanks for your comment though 😊
And there have been too many for too many years who never made it back for Thanksgiving — I feel the sense of loss here, heartache, despair, and a little hope.
It is true, unfortunately. I feel lucky I never had to endure what some of my fellow army wives have during past wars. My husband is reserves now and could retire soon but still has it in his heart to stay. He will be 52! 21 years of marriage seems so long and short too.
Such an emotional poem. Going, coming, waiting, loving, aching memories.
Thanks! Yes, it is a roller coaster at times for sure!
What a touching portrayal of a soldier’s life and the life of those who wait at home.
Thanks, Beverly! 💗
no idea how army wives do it but fortunately you’ve both survived! Your poem clearly demonstrates the wait the angst the unknown … doubt those serving really understand what their loved ones feel 😦
But thanks for his service 🙂
Thanks for your thoughts ❣️ I don’t think I could do it again, I tell him not to expect me to at least, haha! I’m not the best at long separations. But you do what you must in life.
good for you, glad you warned him!
but they usually do as they wish anyway 🙂
Well he’s had knee surgery this year so I think his knees are in agreement with me. He will protect the home front here 😊 let’s just pray it stays peaceful over the next month!
guessing you live in the states … he may see more there in the next month than he ever saw in a war zone, from what we hear!
I hope not! Yes, live in Missouri. I have mixed feelings on all of it. I don’t think there will actually be bad riots if people believe the election is fair. We will see how it goes.
well he is already stirring the pot, claiming it’s a court case, rigged etc … it’s only about HIM nothing to do with the country he’s trashed …
I think they will go to the Supreme Court over Pennsylvania. Ultimately, I think Trump will win but I could be wrong. I do not approve of his immature ways but I didn’t want Biden either. I don’t want the country locked down. I think a third party is needed. Nothing gets done now. It’s always about choosing the lesser evil at the polls. But I have faith God has a plan.
and sometimes his plan is to do nothing if people aren’t prepared to help themselves … doubt it will go well either way, take care 😦
It must be so hard to be separated like that, not just the distance but the dangers of war as well. Hope he comes home for good.
Thanks for the comment! He hasn’t been on long overseas deployments for many years now as he is now on reserve status. It was very scary after 9/11 for a while because he was gone a lot then. November does seem to be a favorite month for Army deployment.
Love this: “branches that separate/the leaves blow away” – To me this captures wonderfully the suddenness and terror at the fragility of life
Thanks, Dora! I appreciate your thoughts!
First rate poem, Tricia. How you paralleled the month and the memories of the sepia tones with your husband and his military obligations and had them traveling throughout the lines. Coming from a family that has had many in the military those leaves for the holidays really hit a chord with me.
Yes, those deployments are especially hard. I appreciate your thoughts on the poem, it just flowed from me. It’s cool when that happens!
So tough to be separated from the loved one. I am happy to read that you are able to spend Thanksgiving together.
Thanks, Grace! We missed Thanksgiving together after 9/11 but the next one was more special. I always love seeing videos of the soldiers surprising their families coming home early for holidays!
One of the most emotion-invoking poems I’ve read …. and beautiful. Cheers.
Thanks so much! I appreciate your visit and kind words 🙂