Written for Kansaspoet's Monthly Contest using one of his Title Prompts |
VISIONS OF SAPPHIRE HILLS Another day on patrol in search of weapons of war, his unit was the best, knowing what they fought for. Heading out in the heat of the sand they traveled on, not knowing they would not see the coming of dawn. The fading light cast myriad colors across the sky, memories of peaceful twilight walks he did not deny He glanced at the picture inside his helmet and then buckled it tightly and went back to his duty again.. The unit ahead had passed an explosive device, they followed the route with little worry or strife. Something went wrong and a swerve to the right Lit up the sky with an explosion of unearthly light. Just before the blast his thoughts had been of home, visions of sapphire hills where he would freely roam. Scorching heat and flames engulfed the humvee Three lives lost and two men that held on bravely; We at home cannot imagine the suffering and pain; burned bodies were thrown and some did remain among the living; those who did survive will recall for the rest of their lives the ones who gave all. This is just one of the stories of our women and men who put their lives on the line, again and again. Two men survived by the grace of a surgeon's skills and their ever-haunting visions of the sapphire hills. Countrymom 1/4/07 Revised 1/24/07 A true story, condensed Support Our Troops! |