Bella Poem by Francis Duggan

In her mid nineties her hair silver gray
Bella has seen many a night and day
Her long time husband Luke in the local cemetery lay
A good husband to her and a good person in every way

Their only offspring the brave young Stan
In the late sixties died in the war in Vietnam
A bullet from a Vietcong gun brought an end to his life
He died without children or a lover or wife

Far from his hometown his family and friends he died
He is buried somewhere in the Vietnam countryside
But sadly for Bella and Luke their son's grave was never found
For him to be returned home to be reburied in his homeground

The good and the bad days of life Bella has known
In her two bedroom bungalow she lives on her own
Yet on her beautiful wrinkled features of sorrow no trace
She always does have a big smile on her face

A woman who has known of life's good days and bad
But Bella is one who does never look sad
She always smiles and greets me with a good day
A beautiful person in her own sweet way.