Monday, March 31, 2025

The Wall

I haven’t seen it (yet),

            But I survived it

Along with hundreds of thousands more

Who left no small part of a poor man’s soul

Lost and confused in a “no-man’s” war.

 

Fifty-eight thousand two two zero

Carved on a wall of shimmering black.

FIVE-EIGHT-COMMA-TWO-TWO-ZERO

Brilliant brave souls who didn’t come back.

 

And tens upon tens upon thousands more

Who came back unwhole in body, in-kind,

To be spat on, cursed and ridiculed by

A nation that seemed to be out of its mind.

 

But the wall stands tall and long and proud,

The message loud, the statement clear;

That these represent the best of the best

Who gave everything without question or fear.

 

So, we view them with pride

            --With their brothers-in-arms –

When we pause to reflect and recall.

And should we forget what true honor is worth

We need only stand close to the wall.

 


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