In Loving Memory of my brother,

Airman Roger  J. Johann

July 24, 1935-May, 4, 1955

Life is a whisper quick–

as he balanced the cigarette on his lip

I was just three, sitting on his knee

the kitchen chair, him and me

then he passed the cigarette my way

naïve I was what can I say

when a puff of smoke I did inhale

and I felt ever so pale

big brothers have their ways

and we did bond deeply in that stay.

It was Christmas Eve and I was four

I was waiting for him who I adored

Snuggled in his bed asleep

He picked me up and down the stairs we did creep

There underneath the lit Christmas tree

Colored chalk and blackboard waiting for me!

Off to England and Iceland next

There he was the Air Force guest

Then the day became the night

His life was lost on that flight

Only nineteen, it was not fair

So young and so much to give for freedom’s dare

The North Atlantic took him to the Lord

And his eight friends who were aboard

Now the years have come and gone

Still I remember his gentle song

My Mom sat with me

Beneath the window breeze

Pointing to the sky

To the military formation for me to fly

There were the planes one by one

Except for yours, they flew their song

How deep her sorrow for you she wept

In her heart, the love she kept

How many young people have given their life

For freedom, that day, became your wife

“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
― Confucius

“Opening”

the hurt of betrayal

shakes a person to the core

the hurt of betrayal

closes love’s door

disbelief and shock

become companions of the day

sleeplessness and tears

become the unspoken way

doubts of self arise within

becoming despair and lost hope

dragging in the mud

contemplating how to cope

as illusions continue to flood

the pain is real and deep

trust is in a tailspin

still love prevails as I weep

somehow forgiveness

must enter once more

somehow goodness

must surface to the floor

compassion for the other

cannot be ignored

compassion for oneself

as hope opens the door