Navy man's death

NAVY MAN'S DEATH

(For Gene de Guzman, husband of Nelia de Guzman in the tribute below, who passed away earlier as a Navy veteran).

I was there too under a shade

the gun salute shattered my pretense.

The bugle wail pierced the summer heat

for a moment drowning my grief.

Why is it that we only miss

those who are in their eternal rest?

In my book, Rustle of bamboo leaves, but originally published in World Haiku  Review, Vol. 1, Issue 2, August 2001.