Once Upon a Time Poems

Patriots' Parade

In front of a bay window,
with the clean painted stucco
around its frame,
he watches the parade,
sitting in a VA wheelchair,
his forehead wrinkled in stripes,
in his eyes stars gleaming.

To a brass band
marching, dancing, prancing,
horses, firetrucks, majorettes,
brownies, boy scouts, ladies auxiliary,
policemen, kids on bikes,
but only a row of Vets...

His gaze climbs to the sun
for another parade,
a patriots' parade:
faces of the fallen,
interrupted lives.
He hears bagpipes weeping.
Who won, who lost? So iffy,
when bugles mourn Taps...

Row by row,
“Amazing Grace”
the torch he held up high,
his pledged words:
liberty,
justice,
sanctity of peace.
While some lend a hand to salute,
he has given his heart.