Granite Gray, Marble White
(In
remembrance of fallen servicemen)
The setting is a national cemetery, or the military
section of any cemetery,
with the rows
of identical crosses or stones; and how they arrived there,
for a lifelong faithful duty, for those whose
faithful duty is over.
Rows and rows of faithful soldiers, keeping watch until the
dawn
Over the
beds of finest men and women, that ever nation spawned.
Whence came these quiet soldiers, with steady, unwavering
gaze,
Who watch
o’er their beloved, through dimming evening haze?
From the bowels of earth and mountainside, from edges of
earth’s crust,
The drill,
blast, scoop, have yielded them from out a cloud of dust.
Unknown to fellow travelers who journeyed their same road,
With
similar wheels and engines to bear their heavy load,
They came! To this
green carpet, for years to solemn stand,
To mark the
final resting of the choicest of the land.
And now, in ceaseless vigil, with crest of morning dew,
They serve
their fallen comrade; and mark a spot beneath the blue.
Both here by accuracy of man, machine, and blast of power,
From that great
noise and energy, to this quiet, solemn bower.
One from dark earth to sun, the other from sun to dark earth.
The end of
one’s tumultuous watch became the other’s birth.
Yet, we would have it different now, and trade one for the
other,
And have
again in loving arms: dad, mom, sister, son, or brother.
But no reply from partners, still. No matter loud the tears,
No response
from either soldier, in this or other years.
Naught! But quiet example, of service, brave and true.
Their
steady gaze and forward press, their gift to me and you.
If one reflects on what they say, with voices now unheard,
They speak
their timeless message still, without an uttered word.
In appreciation of the
soldiers’ gift to us, which was with great loss to their families.
© Tom B. Bandy
770-548-3020
tbandy523@comcast.net
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