The War Bride

by Ken Ashworth
The Waters
Honorable Mention, December 2019
Judged by Laurie Byro


In ’44 my mother took a year
from college to fly B 29’s
from the Army proving grounds
to L.A. for war in the Pacific,
took the train back.

There were no scholarships
for women; a girl had to do
what a girl had to do. She was
president of the Literary Society,
member of the Homecoming Court.

The next year, she met my father.
In six weeks they married.
She dropped out because
he wanted a housewife.

In the wedding photo she is 19
I want to go back in time
as my future self, part her veil,
hand her a white rose and say,

“Don’t do this. You don’t have
to do this. “


"The War Bride" is a feminist delight reminiscent of Sharon Olds "Strike Sparks." Not much to find fault in this wonderuflly told anecdote. I also give her and it a white rose. --Laurie Byro