Friday, February 7, 2020

something about raymond (in memorial raymond j hanch)


at age 84, raymond sits at home
by his computer day trading
pretty damned good at it too
retired from years with
stock investment firm
a good living
could have been a priest
fell in love with josephine instead
married 50-some years
raised five kids nice two storey tudor
in park ridge
army veteran medals in the
top dresser drawer
combat infantryman badge
bronze star expert marksman
good conduct various campaigns
fought in the battle of the bulge
survived world war II,
drinks a few gin martinis before dinner
still has nightmare dreams on
occasion machine gun and
small arms fire hand grenades
and artillery shells exploding
mutilated and dismembered bodies
lots of blood rivers of blood
frozen in the snow
the ardennes belgium december 1944
war is hell over and over you never outlive
the images do you raymond
the bell has rung and the market is closed
day trading is done, it’s quiting time
cheers at age 84 here’s to all the years
you deserve another martini
before you go
beefeaters one olive as I recall.

                 -30-

Chris Hanch 2-7-2020

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