While in Korea, I got terribly ill with a powerful cold. Sneezing, coughing, miserable aching. I rarely took any time off work, but left after about an hour, went back to my quarters and slept almost all day. When I awoke, this poem came to me, and I wrote it down, first draft was final copy.

The Cold Away from Home

It ain’t no fun to be alone
and it’s worse when you’re totin’ a cold.
My body is aching clear to the bone
and this sneezin’ is sure getting old.

I’ve tried ev’ry remedy I can find in the house
but this cough’s turnin’ into the croup.
I’m thinkin’ the only cure is a spouse
who can cook up a good bowl of soup.

If I was just home, I’d lay down in bed –
then we could play “patient and nurse”.
I doubt if it’d help this ache in my head
but I’m sure it won’t make things worse!