To Write Them Down

A turn of phrase
or sayings they liked to use
and names they called special ones
it makes them live on

I heard her yesterday in my head
“don’t grizzle” she said
that’s what she used to say to me
“don’t grizzle”

He called me “Missy”
no one else ever has
I miss hearing that name
but it wouldn’t be the same if someone else starting using it

There’s one I never met
but when I’m told of his expressions it’s like I have
“Directly” he would respond, apparently,
when asked if he’d completed a task
“I’ll do it directly”

On the plaque in the remembrance garden
under the details of her life’s span
he signed it
“Until we meet again, love Squaddie”
that was her name for him
“Squaddie”

If I think of more
I’ll be sure
to write them down