Memorial Day Band
The rhythm of the drums comes through,
The marching of the feet,
Sometimes a shrill reminder,
From the fife’s piercing tweet.
I stir a bit, as if to join,
The celebrators there,
But then I settle down again,
Like dust motes in still air.
There was a time I strode about,
And shouted with the boys,
A time when we were conquerors,
Equipped with brand new toys.
We leaped across the oceans!
We flew up in the air!
And girls looked down and smiled at us,
Encouraging our stare.
We would return. We knew it!
We were too young to die.
And so we took our weapons up,
And never asked them why.
Why would we study History?
What did we know of War?
We only did what young men do,
And what’s been done before.
But lately, I’ve been thinking.
I’ve had some time for that.
I should have studied more in school,
Not jumped at the drop of a hat.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m no coward!
I would still have gone, I’m sure,
But at least I could tell my buddies,
What it was we had tried to secure.
You see, there’s a dream that we live for,
And which we will die for, too.
This sleep that I’m sleeping reminds me,
That I ought to just share it with you.
I dreamed of a world full of wonder,
Where the walls were just marks on the land,
Of whose farms had the prettiest apples,
Or where showed our Grandfather’s hand.
And a gate was a door to a new place,
You could visit, if you’d mind to behave,
And a beach was one twin with a brother,
You could see just beyond that big wave.
I could walk into China like Polo,
And say Hi to the Emperor there,
And he’d smile and he’d say something funny,
And he’d tell me to pull up a chair.
Then we’d chat about silk and we’d chuckle,
And he’d beat me a lot playing chess,
And then finally I’d have to say so long,
You come visit my folks in the US.
I’d walk down the road where the world is,
I’d be glancing around at the view.
I’d be looking real hard for a nice place,
And for something important to do.
So I guess I shouldn’t complain, then,
Having fallen into this place,
I managed to live out a part of that dream,
And I’m here with a smile on my face.
It wasn’t the nicest real estate,
And it doesn’t have much of a view,
But I paid for it with the fame I sought,
And at least I’m important to you.
NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . May 18, 2006
Invisible Soldier
You can tell her by the twinkle in her eye,
At parades when the flag marches by.
She served our country and she served it very well.
Some have even served a tour or two in Hell.
She suffered hardship and never ceased to care.
It gave us strength just to know that she was there.
She was a leader, you could tell by the rank she wore,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.
She can march, she can fly, and she can sail.
She proved that bravery isn't exclusive of the male.
She did every job she was asked and more,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.
Now, it is finally time to right a wrong.
Honor our sister soldier; hear her song.
It's very clear that she's a patriot to the core.
Don't let her be the invisible soldier anymore.
...©1995 Sarge Lintecum
With My Shield, Or On It
I know it is upsetting,
To see things done this way.
Flag-draped caskets side by side,
They’re headed home today.
One thing you might not think about,
The view from the inside.
I’ve got some time now on my hands,
While on this final ride.
Sorry I didn’t write more,
Too late to fix that now.
I’ll try to be more scrupulous,
To get word out somehow.
There are no easy channels,
But I’m sure that you will know,
I don’t regret the choice I made,
And why I had to go.
You’d think perhaps the view from here,
Would be quite dark inside,
But it is light as light can be,
My burden’s been untied.
And I’ve been lifted up,
On angel wings I think,
And I’ve got every thing I need,
Except our kitchen sink.
I’d like to wash my hands once more,
And turn and get a hug.
I wish I could shake the hand of,
My best friend too, ya lug.
But all that stuff is over now,
I’ve got my new assignment,
Looks like I hitched my wagon to,
A different star alignment.
I know I always promised Mom,
I’d try to be real good,
Will someone please just let her know,
I did the best I could.
I have to go now, duty calls,
Think of me when you can,
The folks will think they lost their boy,
My buddies saw a man.
NicknamedBob . . . April 25, 2004
© 2004
............................................Graphics by MamaBear, Billie and St.Louie1
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