Living in Germany I often hear stories from the elderly who come into my gallery.
Some old enough to remember, the struggles of their country during the war, as their family flees from one army to another.
This is one of many stories told to me as she sat and had a tea, and I in return share this with you.
We won the war, but their lives and their country was as real as ours. Their dead, were loved as much as ours, and their pain
continues with deep wounds of anger, regret and memories of love.
I listen to these stories with an open mind, not one of judgement, but one who wishes to learn.
She sat with tear filled eyes as she talked of all she loved.
The war left her with many memories, most painful, but then as she said that was the way life was.
Often we find the meaning of life in the stories told by the old.
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Grey Eyes
All my friends have died she said to me,
as she looked out with grey eyes, that had seen too much.
Her face etched with lines that dug deep into her pale grey face.
Paper thin was the skin on her wrinkled hands, as blue veins pointed out in the distance.
We came from there she said, the winter months took many lives.
The Russians chased us night and day, and we ran to the Americans.
Two armies we feared, but the Russians were brutal, raping women and killing the men. We picked the lesser of two evils, God was watching over us it seemed.
I can still see the mist filled mornings as the horses dragged what little we had onward.
We sat on top of the wagon as it shook left and right, up and down on the frozen dirt tracks of the many who traveled before us.
My tear stained cotton coat, clung tightly to my body, seeking warmth as we cried.
I no longer in my mothers arms, she too weary to hold me, struggled with the load she bore.
My father lie wounded in the wagon, his body broken by the war.
His legs no longer useful, as he called for gods help, to free him of his misery.
I watched her, as she spoke of many nights in fear, as bombs exploded in the dark forest.
And then she turned to me and said, I have seen enough, lived enough, and suffered enough.
It’s time to go.
I looked at her and understood.
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