Two days ago I attended a veteran's funeral. He was 97 and a member of our regiment. He fought in the "Devil's Brigade". He fought behind enemy lines with a knife after dark. He was the stuff of legend but the price was impossibly high
Too small for the casket
In regimental mufti
Clutching a maroon beret
Surrounded by the brotherhood
Who have shared his life
In dark realms unknown to
Lesser men
His war ended seventy four
Long years ago
His terrors not blunted
By muting decades
His nights were filled
With images of death
No less screaming
For their passing years
He rests easy here
His soul now gone
To Elysium's fields
Beyond this scorching vail
In benediction before him now
We place a poppy at his side
Step back salute
And say a prayer
In the hope that we may rest
As he is now when our turn comes
Praying all our horrors and lasting pain
Will wash away and not be in vain
Poetry by josephus
Read 566 times
Written on 2019-08-15 at 02:56
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Heroes Funeral
The wizened man lays statelyToo small for the casket
In regimental mufti
Clutching a maroon beret
Surrounded by the brotherhood
Who have shared his life
In dark realms unknown to
Lesser men
His war ended seventy four
Long years ago
His terrors not blunted
By muting decades
His nights were filled
With images of death
No less screaming
For their passing years
He rests easy here
His soul now gone
To Elysium's fields
Beyond this scorching vail
In benediction before him now
We place a poppy at his side
Step back salute
And say a prayer
In the hope that we may rest
As he is now when our turn comes
Praying all our horrors and lasting pain
Will wash away and not be in vain
Poetry by josephus
Read 566 times
Written on 2019-08-15 at 02:56
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
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Lawrence Beck |
