Casual Words | Expats Poetry

Casual Words

March 8th, 2012

10 comments

Expats, Poetry

Image credit: Kazmaniac

A brief encounter, words indelible, etched forever

He sat shoulder-slumped on the sidewalk as

I, primed for entrance to the chic boutique

Walked briskly for grazing evening wear

His eyes followed; he said Hello Ma’am and

I turned to meet his smile of warm cinnamon

In a gaze I took his measure, but walked inside

As the evening wear swung, hanger by hanger

No interest had I, since I knew he was out there

Alone, unkempt, wrapped in beaten-down jacket

And a hat of unknown variety, certainly not chic

I exited but dared to walk through a new door

Are you, were you, I asked as I stopped before him

Nam, said he, I’m so sorry said I holding his eyes

Then saw one stump of a leg, a casualty of a time

When flames burned in one place, flags in another

As I reached for my wallet, No, said he, No Ma’am

Thanks, served you know, my country back then

And proud of it, you see, said in cinnamon smile

As he tilted his head up toward me, and I felt so

Small, so inadequate compared to his sincerity, to

The remnant of a leg lost for those who spat and sang

And chanted and disrespected the honor of a man with

Casual words and a cinnamon smile that haunt me still

Cher Duncombe (27 Posts)

Conveying emotions through word images is something I have long loved. I describe it as word-painting, sometimes Impressionistic like Monet and sometimes bold and obtuse like Picasso.

10 Comments

tolbert

March 8, 2012 at 10:17 am ·

“As I reached for my wallet, No, said he, No Ma’am

Thanks, served you know, my country back then

And proud of it, you see, said in cinnamon smile

As he tilted his head up toward me, and I felt so

Small, so inadequate compared to his sincerity”

I love the use of the cinnamon smile. It evokes feeling
from all of the senses and is so very descriptive of the
man who “sat shoulder-slumped on the sidewalk…” Good
heart-rending write Cher.
- Cher Duncombe (Author)
  
  March 8, 2012 at 6:41 pm ·
  
  Wayne, you are so kind. Thank you.
  Cher Duncombe recently posted..McCain Beats The Drums of War (Again)
Larry Conley

March 8, 2012 at 1:17 pm ·

Cher,

This touched my heart profoundly the first time I read it. I can imagine how you looked to him.

When we were the Nam we thought of what you must have been with longing and if we were fighting for anything human we were fighting for you and those like you.

We hoped to come home to open hearts, open arms, and open …. Some of us did and others never made it.

Your pause, your query would have been like water in the desert to him. It seems you did not give him money at his request, but you gave him something more precious. I imagine he’d been looking for that quite a while.

Thank you for sharing this with us!

As ever,

Larry
Larry Conley recently posted..The Pants on Fire Party
- Cher Duncombe (Author)
  
  March 8, 2012 at 6:49 pm ·
  
  Larry, you need to know that I (we) do appreciate your pain, courage and sacrifice. Many did not show gratitude when you returned but hear the words of thanks now. I wrote this the night after I had met this gentle soul. Perhaps somehow his impact on me will be felt by others and when they hear casual words from a Veteran, they will be kind. Thank you, dear friend.
  Cher Duncombe recently posted..McCain Beats The Drums of War (Again)
Janene

March 8, 2012 at 5:11 pm ·

What a touching poem. So many on the streets have given so much to our country. We need to show them the respect that you did.
Janene recently posted..cute keyboard animals
- Cher Duncombe (Author)
  
  March 8, 2012 at 6:51 pm ·
  
  Janene, thank you so much. Here is to warmth and kindness for strangers who fought for faceless strangers.
  Cher Duncombe recently posted..McCain Beats The Drums of War (Again)
Melody Haislip

March 9, 2012 at 1:43 am ·

Cher, it’s one of life’s little mysteries, how we can make such deep and haunting connections with people who pass through our lives in moments. It reinforces my belief that time is merely an illusion. Your poem is imbued with love and compassion. I can almost see that ‘cinnamon smile’. Love the way you write from your heart.
Melody Haislip recently posted..When A Flame Dies
- Cher Duncombe (Author)
  
  March 9, 2012 at 8:44 am ·
  
  Melody, like you I have long believed that in life, it is the moments that count. It is never the grandiose gestures that linger with meaning. It is those small encounters here and there that remain etched. Thank you for your generous sentiments.
  Cher Duncombe recently posted..McCain Beats The Drums of War (Again)
TJ Lubrano

March 10, 2012 at 3:48 pm ·

Another memory has been written to life by you, Sweet Cher Ah I could this scene clearly in my mind. The glance, the talk, the smile, the sincerity and of course the …”Cinnamon smile”, such a pretty way to describe it. You instantly know it’s a warm, tender and sweet smile. Simply lovely!! xoxoxo!
TJ Lubrano recently posted..A Look in The Past: A Free Spirit.
Cher Duncombe (Author)

March 10, 2012 at 6:33 pm ·

Sweet TJ, your words are always so kind and warm. Thank you for being you. xoxoxo
Cher Duncombe recently posted..McCain Beats The Drums of War (Again)