October 2023
Joe Miano
jmiano@cox.net
Bio Note: I am a retired physics teacher who has written poems ever since High School. I have taught in Kenya with the Peace Corps, in South Bend, Indiana, and in Oklahoma City and have published two historical fiction novels: A Thief in the African Night: The Conflicts of Change in 2020 and The Scribe of Akrai: Luxo Reveals the Secrets of Trinacria in 2022.They each include a few of my poems and are available on Amazon.

Backstroke
Homage to Edwin - 2023
(Edwin Lee downing is my brother-in-law who has suffered 
from ptsd and now is ill and has dementia.)

Backstroke
Kick and stroke
Majestic blue
Dazzling sun
Bright and blinding
A half-track
One, two, backstroke
Pure white puffs
Dark black 
Underbellies
Two sides
Life and death
Kick and stroke

Years ago
Doc was sent
To a half-track
Tagged the dead
Day and night
Backstroke
Kept his head

Each day
Young men
Cut from life
Now cold
Cadavers 
Backstroke

Others cured
Backstroke
Tagged 
Another day
Kick and stroke

How long 
Can one endure?
How long? 
Without a toll?
Backstroke

For sixty years
Doc
Has stroked
Done
The backstroke

Now old
The toll taken
Body and mind
Shaken
The pain 
Remains
Kick and stroke
Clouds dark
Envelop him
Backstroke

Uncleansed 
By holy water
The pain
remains
The dark
Descends
Kick and stroke
Backstroke
Originally published in publication
©2023 Joe Miano
Editor's Note: If this poem(s) moves you please consider writing to the author (email address above) to say what it is about the poem you like. Writing to the author is what builds the community at Verse Virtual. It is very important. -JL