Love Does Conquer All Poem by Daleen Enslinstrydom

In a yellow chest in the attic
I found my grandmother’s wedding dress,
an old wedding photograph
and a bundle of love letters addressed to her

and carefully I untangled the pink ribbon
and read the yellow stained letters one by one
and the love that stood the test of time
made my heart tremble

and tears ran down my cheeks
as I thought about the love
of my grandfather for her
and they were so very young
when the war broke out in Europe

and he had to go to fight in it
and their love carried him through
the agonies of war
and her picture faded out
all of the ugly things
that he did experience and see.

The warmth in his heart
could not be extinguished
by the fierce winter
and he was kept alive
by her promise to marry him
on his return

and not even the ocean
could separate the love
that they did feel for each other
and when he was wounded
he was desperate to get well
to return home.

I fold the letters close
and put them back
out of respect
for their eternal love

and I looked back
to memories of all the years
and realise that after sixty five years
they were still happily married and in love
and I know that love does conquer all.