I Don't Think We've Met: War Brides and the Heartbreak of War

When men are sent to war overseas,
Life often has a way that won't please,
As promises of love are not kept;
With tragedy in love, tears are wept.

War brides oft relate sad tales of woe,
And this is how one story did go.
"Met a man, asked me to be his wife."
A broken heart can be part of life.

"A telegram, he promised to send.
I wondered how his words would be penned.
Our special days, not beyond recall,
And my dreams went far beyond them all."

In war time, there is reality.
"I wondered if he would contact me.
Pondered what it was going to say,
Waiting for his telegram that day.

It came, and I opened it with care,
Excited, with no thought of despair.
"I don't think we've met," is what I read;
Read it twice, not pleased with what it said.

To me, the telegram spoke a lie,
But, it did not state a reason why.
My dreams were thus, dashed into the ground.
I walked away, did not make a sound.

I decided that I would not beg,
Later learned, that week he'd lost a leg."
Sometimes, love can level out the score.
These two became the parents of four.

There is a lot of heartbreak in war.
Ask war brides; they may recount some more.
But, heartbreak becomes so tragic when
The war brides don't let love guide again.

Love can heal the wounds of war.