Heilbronn

Heilbronn

I remember the river,
The small boats, and the far shore
And, beyond, the broken wall,
The buildings, torn by war,
And fallen comrades.

I remember the catwalk and the factory,
The voices down below,
The grenade that fell among us, silent,
As if warning us to go.

I remember midnight,
And vivid in my mind,
Retreat, the burning catwalk, safety,
But a comrade left behind
Somewhere in the dark.

And I remember morning
And Roske coming back unharmed.