Louis Larsen worked as an English instructor for the majority of his adult life. In that time, he produced many works in both novels and poetry. Louis also worked as a ghost writer for many others, as well as newspapers throughout Utah. The works here represent those left to the family, both published and unpublished. Much of his work reflects a haunting feeling of loss, pain and betrayal. This comes from the loss of his son, Thomas Larsen, in World War II. Tom served with the 85th Mountain Infantry of the 10th Mountain Division, where he served with distinguished honor, and paid the ultimate price for his commitment. Tom lost his life on Riva Ridge, Mount Belvedere in February, 1945. This loss haunted Louis for the remainder of his life. Many of his poems reflect this pain and leave a legacy of the emotional priced paid in the wake of war.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Vision

More wondrous than a winter scene
Are mortal seeing eyes
That weave the tapestries of light
To make the scene materialize.

The endless snowy wilderness
Of buried bush and burdened tree
Would be a formless void of night
Had you not eyes to see.

Gay blossoms in the springtime,
The frutage in the fall,
You would grope for in a limbo
Where they grow beside the wall.

(First published in Along the Lane: Dedicated to the memory of Thomas William Larsen, who lost his life in World War II)

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