Rhapsody in Blue Jeans

Rhapsody in Blue Jeans

FORGOTTEN

(A poem I wrote today May 30, 2016 while pondering the ones who have gone before)

 

He does not fear a soldier’s death,
Tho’ family stands with bated breath
As his footsteps fade away
Marching toward the battle fray.

The battle’s din, tho’ sad and grim,
Fails in its quest to silence him.
Freedom’s voice inside his breast
Drives him on in freedom’s quest.

Tho’ day is dark and night – alone –
His hero heart does not bemoan
The absence from the ones he loves
Freedom deep within him moves.

Artillery and mortar fight
Would feign disparage freedom’s sight;
The agony and loss of limb
Threatens to dishearten him.

Yet on he fights in noble strain
Through fear, fatigue and intense pain.
Liberty’s clear, clarion call
Guides him onward through it all.

Death’s calloused fingers claw their way
Into his heart, they make their stay;
As fighting friend falls ‘neath the blow,
His spirit sags – morale is low.

Yet on he battles through it all
Even as his comrades fall.
Liberty’s lucid call to stand
Strengthens, buckles freedom’s strand.

And so against the fears of hell
Our soldier fights and doth fight well.
Until the day when all is stilled –
The battle’s o’er, the goal fulfilled.

He returns home to hero’s tune,
But mem’ries will not fade so soon
Of brothers that he’s left on field
Who would not to the tyrant yield.

Many years have passed since that time
Life’s regained some reason, some rhyme
And then one day to his behest
He’s met with yet another test.

A new soul-enemy appears
Its frightful face conjures fears;
Unexpected and unplanned fate –
This new menace becomes mate.

As time passes, its power grows
Its cold breath menacingly blows
Into the soul of our hero,
O’er freedom it throws its shadow.

Who is this enemy that haunts?
In freedom’s face its fury flaunts
Through our ignorance he’s begotten
His mournful name – forgotten.

Protect our hero from this shame
If this foe wins we are to blame
Pass on the torch of freedom’s flame
And honor freedom-fighter’s name!

 

oldsoldier1

54 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN

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