In a folded envelope

In the folded envelope that bounced,

along the stones of the WWII Memorial at National Mall,

stopped by toe of my last pair of USMC issued boots.

Written in the hand of a boy just learning to write cursive,

was a letter.

Dear Granddaddy, I haven’t forgotten you.

I hope I was a good grandson as you were a grandfather.

I can only be thankful

I’ve never seen the terrible things, you did

I’ve never had to do the things you wouldn’t talk about

That you survived though some didn’t

I love you. I miss you.

Signed with my name.