The news that you wrote to me
has my heart singing with joy my love.
You will be home for the Christmas season
Love songs are playing
on the strings of my heart.
she wrote in her lovely handwriting
The notepaper perfumed with gardenia
her favorite.
little crosses signified her kisses.
He read the letter again and again
it was in in the pocket of his army fatigues
her perfume sweet full of memories
as he held it to his face
And breathed her with him.
in the arid terrain of the desert.

I cannot wait only a week
before you return my love
I feel your fingers touching my heart
telling it you will care for it love it
keep it safe
I am so in love with you
so in love
she wrote

The old lady opened her souvenir box
and picked up the folder of his letters
wrapped in a blue ribbon.
she read them as always
in the sequence
that he wrote them to her

somehow it felt as if
he was still on duty
far away like so long ago
His handwriting
so nice to see again
his words as sweet
as the day she first read them
He never did make it home
that Christmas.