ELEGY Poem: Bodie’s Elegy, by Gwendolyn May

1922-1994
First lieutenant US Air Corps

Vernon Broadus Bodie Bodenhimer.
Your eyes sparkled,
Your cologne clung to me,
I felt so safe in your arms.
Your red spenders,
Button up,
Clean and crisp,
That pen from the pulp mill,
Nestled in your pocket
Black and gold.
Your favorite slacks.

You were gentle.
Maybe somewhat unsettled,
The searing scars of Shell Shock.

You were never the same-
the war-
B-52 navigator-
Bombing filthy fucking natzis into oblivion-
Saving civilians-
Disobeying orders-
earned you your Purple Heart.

A pacifist.
A Quaker.
A conscientious objector.
Decided not to dodge that damn draft.

So the pacifist made his way to war,
And back to us.

But before I could fully grow,
Or even truly know-
You were gone.

I wish just once more
You would wrap me in your arms.