Paul Mullinger
Jan 26, 2023
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

The Letter

The letter mentioned Sarah,
the Samoan girl my dad knew
as a medic in the Navy.
She had moved on to New Zealand
when the Japanese surrendered.
I wondered if he loved her.

Mom made a show of jealousy
at the mention of her name.
I never thought much of it as a child.
But now I’m old and dad is gone,
and I hold a letter from 60 years ago
written by someone that he and Sarah knew,
and I wonder if he loved her.

Paul Mullinger
Paul Mullinger

Written by Paul Mullinger

I studied religion at the UC-Berkeley and have been interested in the spirit ever since. I try to give my poems a spiritual aspect whenever possible.