SSGT Philip J. Wexler
Company M, 127th Infantry Regiment,
32nd Infantry Div. (Red Arrow), Killed 25 July 1945
Senipsip, Luzon, Philippine Islands
on Dumont Ave
my mother swooned
to Basie as
she rocked me
to sleep.
what song
did my father hum
on that Philippine highway
the day
a mortar shell
carried him
to oblivion?
I never knew my father, nor did he ever see me, except for photographs. I tend
to think that he had my picture in his wallet the day he was killed. If he was
indeed humming a tune, or at least hearing one in his mind, then that's where I
got my love of music. And everything else in my life. It must have come from him.
And now, my beautiful six-year-old daughter, Caroline is showing a talent for
music and dance and I know where that comes from. So, Daddy, you're still around,
after all.
-- Alan Wexler --
