One Who Died Twice by Amado Hernandez A close embrace that could not be loosened, A thousand inexhaustible kisses, the promises of two hearts pressed close could not be loaded in a hundred jeeps. This man was a soldier going off to war, a bug who had leaped into the fire; the sweetheart, left behind, to face the fact that call of country ranked ahead of love. When months like a necklace of sighs had passed, the soldier met his end; the widowed sweetheart got the message: “Your beloved has perished.” One afternoon, a woman in mourning, visited a church; her hair was silver, her face gray as lead, tears poured forth as she crossed herself. With deep sorrow, she kneeled before the altar, “God, have mercy on my son . . . ” While outside the church, in a jeep, the girl who was bereaved waits in the arms of another soldier.