January Pome

 When My Brother’s Orders Changed

After his thirty-day leave,
after the flight from Charlotte
to San Francisco,
two days before Vietnam,
we marked his return to Tinker AFB.

His wife watched the commander’s kids.
His crew loaded mines
meant for Haiphong Harbor
and other NVA ports.

We celebrated. We thanked God,
never stopping to think
that somewhere else
another brother,
another husband,
another son
would have to go.