My mother’s cousin Paul was a pilot who was shot down and killed in WWII. She often spoke of him with admiration and affection.
When my mother died, she left boxes of unidentified family photos; my aunt helped a bit with identifications, but she was much younger than her siblings, and had not known the southern Ohio cousins very well. In my mother’s address book, I found her second cousin Mona, Paul’s niece, who patiently looked through many photo scans I emailed her.
Finally I had a face to put to my mother’s words.
silence speaks your name–
through distant shadows of trees
crow answers, calling
This is a revision of a post from 2015. However we are spending this day, let’s take a moment to remember those who served their country and sacrificed their lives so that we could enjoy our own.
For Frank Tassone’s #Haikai Challenge #140, Memorial Day.
K. 
That’s a really lovely pencil sketch of your mum’s cousin Paul…
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Thanks Evelyn. I only wish I could show it to my mother…
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Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #4: K’s latest #haibun for my current #haikai challenge!
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Thanks Frank.
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My pleasure! 🙂
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I like your sketch–he looks so thoughtful, as I imagine a pilot might feel.
“Silence speaks your name”–but you at least put a name and face together.
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Thanks Merril. It was a good moment when I was able to do that. And I’m glad I connected with Mona too.
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Yes, that is nice to have connected.
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What a tribute. And a kind thing to do.
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It was. I’m so thankful to Mona or helping me out. But as I’ve discovered, that is her way.
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