Love Poem: Angelina
Charles Messina Avatar
Written by: Charles Messina

Angelina

In 1965, I was enlisted, 
To serve in the battle at Vietnam
For ten senseless years, I fought 
Until the fall of Saigon
 
A medic, my trade, 
In battle- I'd nurse 
All the wounded soldiers... 
The war would disperse
 
One day in the field, 
While helping the wounded 
I found a Vietnamese woman, 
Bloodied, crying...and severely injured
 
A sever on her forehead 
'Bout three inches wide 
And a bullet hole puncture 
That had torn through her side
 
She was left for dead, 
by those with no vain 
No more could I watch 
that poor woman in pain
 
Draped over my back, 
I trekked half a mile 
Talking other languages 
we spoke all the while
 
Until I got her to a hospital 
across the enemy lines 
Narrowly missing... 
Those enemy mines
 
Ten days she spent 
in the hospitals there 
Until they were able to transport her 
To a room, of my care

For six long months more 
I'd stay with the troops 
Bunkered down like chickens 
cuddled in coops
 
But every day, I checked...
On that Vietnamese woman 
To see if she was still alive 
And to see how she was doing
 
As days passed by, 
We became close in heart 
So close, that nothing... 
Could separate us apart
 
That wounded Vietnamese woman 
Became part of my life 
My sweet Angelina, 
Is now my dear wife