The Perfumed Letter 1916 Poem by Ken e Hall

Dear Sweetheart,
As war drags on in this faraway land,
In this field of strangers that I face bayonets fixed I see,
Mad hatters place us here, like pawns in a deadly chess hand,
I will survive I will stay alive for you, my reason to be.

Counting as much, every grain of sand, every dropp of rain
Add together seem’s the same as days since

My eyes beheld your beauty I miss your being, so grand,
Your lipstick lips embossed inside your perfumed letter,

Kissing me softly, so long and softly.
Your fragrance lifts my body aloft
I embrace your message it shows on my face,
I smell your hair and feel your skin so soft
Breathe your breath; absorb your comfort in my grace.
Remember summer in the fields of hay we played and ran
You pulled daisy petals ‘he loves me, he loves me not’
You cheated at the end and said ‘he loves me twice’
I shouted loud ‘I love thee thrice, I love thee nice’.

Your memories are the tool I use to hide inside them
To travel away and see the images in my head,
I’m attuned to memories of dreams dreamt
Alas the lull is about to end, this field in Somme we must defend

I must end now my sweet, a medic I see, he will take this letter
To send across the sea, I love you, I love you,
I send you in a heartbeat a kiss,
Your soldier boy Joe xxx