Immortality

listening
eyes closed
face turned heavenwards
off in the distance
a single note at first
clear through the evening air
then another
and another

TAPS
"Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh."

my heart sank
i stood up straight and tall
a tear welled up in my eye
my brother died today
my sister died today
senselessly
prematurely
necessarily
freedom is costly
immortality is remembering
i remember my sister today
my brother is immortal today
for i will remember
patriotism must not be expendable
we must remember them all
until they all come home