For Those Who Fought and Died
With My Grandfather
In
Memory of Henry Friend Russell
Killed in France, May 23rd, 1918
much loved grape vines pendant with purple fruit
hands reaching to harvest through fragrant air
reaching two meters down
vines heavy with palpable pinot noir
daylight starlight touching forgotten names
arms out stretched forever upwards
never reaching sunlight feeling moonlight
all babies nursed once at a mother's breast
war dead in Alsace war dead at Verdun
roots fed by lives lost where trenches were run
much loved grape vines pendant with purple fruit
hands reaching to harvest through fragrant air
reaching two meters down
vines heavy with palpable pinot noir
savoring sweet juice plucked for first pressing
for champagne pinot gris battlefields not far
daylight starlight touching forgotten names
arms out stretched forever upwards
never reaching sunlight feeling moonlight
all babies nursed once at a mother's breast
war dead in Alsace war dead at Verdun
roots fed by lives lost where trenches were run
Copyright © Dick Russell
Richard Michael Friend Russell
2018
2018
