Army Buddies

By Carl Palmer

He starts in on one of his
"that reminds me of when"
war stories he’s repeated
numerous times over time
to us fellow retirees at his table,

but this particular one
he’s busy telling us now
is his third time telling today.

I nod, tent my hands,
murmur agreement,
anxious for him to finish
this oft heard story

which reminds me
of one of my stories
that I need to tell before I forget,
even if we’ve all heard it before.

 

 

Carl “Papa” Palmer of Old Mill Road in Ridgeway, Virginia, lives in University Place, Washington. He is retired from the military and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enjoying life as “Papa” to his grand descendants and being a Franciscan Hospice volunteer. Carl is a Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net and Micro Award nominee..