Soldiers Wives

Oh,
we all wish
to be soldiers
wives
at some time
just to give us
something
some letters to read in your dark
cramped corner
with the carpet smelling of
mildew and fried chicken
and we wish to have our eyes
drag along line after
line
resting on the
love, [blank]
at the end
and we all wish
for them not to die
and at the same time,
wishing to be the
lonesome schmuck
or schmuck-ness if you're
a true lady
that stands holding
a folded flag and
receives
green bean casseroles
on non-holidays
and oh, to think the
reoccurring thought
of 'was I the last person they thought of?'
and in selfish ways,
it makes death okay, if they were
but mostly
not, it's not
this dream that will come true
for the dentist's wives
the accountants wives
only the army wives
get the permission
to sink their teeth into
the pawprint of
animal life
and to keep
a collection of letters, tin boxes
stacked where
non perishable foods should be kept.