Aunt Margaret is happy
In that photograph.
Sitting on the edge of a couch 
she is laughing, 
holding a pack of Marlboro’s
tucked in her left hand.

​

Vincent her handsome husband is smiling
seated on the floor nearby 
surrounded by his father and their friends.
All smiling. 
Big silly smiles.

​

It was before he went to war
and came back scarred,

he would wake screaming

in the night. Holding him tight, Margaret was scared,
Unable to help.

​

They were young lovers 
smiling and happy,
Until then.