Honoring our fallen comrades coming home. (Form: Free Verse) |
Silent Witness The ground is ripped asunder by the hands of death's harbingers. The first tender shoots of spring are crushed leaving verdant stains across cruel metal blades. The earth opens like a raw wound, red and torn, bleeding its life into jumbled piles as its necrotic minions scurry for darkness once more. Canvas covers death's blanket in a vain attempt to hide the coming truth. The ground lays open, warmed and lighted by the rising sun. It lies about the darkness waiting – it lies about the coldness waiting - waiting to embrace it's victim, waiting for a soldiers return. The pungent odor of decay wafts on warm air and infuses into waiting wreaths ... hiding eventuality. Flowers flutter like staked butterflies in the morning breeze ... a single petal falls, tumbling in the currents exposing the fragility of existence. The serenity of the moment lies like fallen tears, pooling in anticipation of the shuffling of feet the sounds of benediction until it can reclaim the silence of eternity. All is ready ... but the hearts of those left behind. Marbled rows of heros past stand in silent witness ... waiting to welcome one of their own. Notes An entry for "HONORING OUR VETERANS " [ASR] They may have banned us from watching our fallen comrades coming home but once glimpsed, the images remain forever in the heart. Since you're already here, please leave a comment. Criticism welcome - I don't take it personally. I'm just trying to improve my abilities. If it touches you (good or bad, laughter or sadness), that's feedback too and good to know. Thanks... Ken |