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TWO OLD PHOTOS
I was leafing through my mom’s old bible that’s sat on our shelf since she died
when two pieces of paper floated out and landed by my side
Two old photos I hadn’t seen before…photos I never knew she had…
Photos of two soldiers…one my mom and one my dad.
On the back of the two photos…five words in faded grey
written in each other’s hand…’you take my breath away”
Photos they must have given each other before war tore them apart
Photos that, while in their youth, showed the essence of their hearts.
I imagine they kept these photos with them…to help see them through the war
I imagine they kept them near their hearts…like so many soldiers had before.
And when they returned home again…safe, secure…unharmed…
the pictures were not needed for they had each others arms…
So they found a final resting place- their job was now complete..
in a page in Mom’s old bible…until they landed at my feet…
Two photos from a time I didi not know them…when their love was new and strong
Two photos that…after reading them…I tucked back where they belong.
Perhaps it’s a bit egotistical of me…and certainly it’s wrong
but I never thought much about my parents lives before I came along…
But reading the back of those two photos…
from another time…
another day…
made me smile for a moment
as they took my breath away.
