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Open Poetry #40
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I Saw A Young Man Die
| Open Poetry #40 |
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I Saw A Young Man Die |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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I Saw A Young Man Die I saw a young man die today The senseless tragedy Each grisly detail caught on tape And broadcast on TV He died a hero’s death, this man At war in foreign lands His promised life, too soon, cut short Death by another’s hands We read the front page stories As under our hushed breath We cursed crusades beyond control That caused this young man’s death They televised his funeral We watched his mother’s grief We saw the tears shed by his wife And stood in disbelief We glimpsed the flag draped casket We sensed the family’s pride We heard the guns sound their salute As everybody cried ~ I saw a young man die today Another kind of war Fought on the streets of our hometowns And not on foreign shores A hero to no one but me Although his only crimes Were being caught in the wrong place At just the worst of times The gun shots rang out in the night I heard his muffled scream I ran outside and prayed that this Was all some crazy dream I reached his body far too late To stem the wounds that bled I felt the life ooze out of him From both his chest and head I pled, “Dear God, don’t take my son!” Then held him as he died A young life lost but this time I’m The only one who cried I am nothing special...and my name will soon be forgotten,but I've loved another with all my heart and soul,and to me,this has always been enough.~N.S |
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| © Copyright 2007 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
gosh... I'm speechless |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
As you do, you tender reality with a compassionate touch.  |
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unholyjudgement Member
since 2007-02-27
Posts 116Wherever my soul takes me next |
WoW Amazing Beautiful Tragic |
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fallenangel219 Junior Member
since 2007-03-05
Posts 10 |
that was very good |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
I haven't seen you in a long time. As usual, this is a beautiful poem, but so sad. |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Ruth...Such saddness. This happens everyday, but will never be acceptable. I pray the killing everywhere stops...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
as always, your words can touch... M |
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he11oxNASTY Junior Member
since 2007-02-21
Posts 27 |
Wow. So sad and so touching. Amazing. April-Lyn |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Always a complex issue. Your poetic statement holds much truth. The dead have a more clear understanding of this than the living. |
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Rod Member
since 1999-12-08
Posts 149Auckland New Zealand |
You have superbly illustrated the futility of war and violence and highlighted the distinction between public and private grief. If I had my way I would have this poem compulsorily displayed in every foyer of every parliament and military establishment in the world. This is the kind of poem that means so much to so many....and, sadly, seemingly little to some. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you all for your kind replies. I may not be here on the blue pages as much as I'd like but I'm always here in heart and it is always good, no great, to come home!  Ruth |
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INclan Senior Member
since 1999-07-20
Posts 1024Indiana, USA |
Thank you Ruth for posting this. I too am not here often enough. It is wonderful to read you when I am here. I have missed you. Regards, INclan |
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peppis New Member
since 2007-03-27
Posts 7Oregon |
What a beautiful piece of work, it definitely touches the heart. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Ruth, I'd like to ditto all the replies above. An outstanding piece of compassionate poetry. I wish you were around more often. You have a very special way of connecting with your readers. Your words touch deeply. Loving hug, Linda |
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TerryW Senior Member
since 2000-03-23
Posts 779Louisville, Mississippi, USA |
Ruth, Dear friend, no one can bring things home the way you can. I can't keep the tears from my eyes. You have such a spiritual way of touching me every time I read your work. Thanks for this... ~~Love Terry ~you reached inside, you touched my heart, |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
You do have a talent for showing us basic truths and realities, m'friend.. quite poetically, might I add - Nice to see you - and I'm loving your book..  |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Hoot, I don't know if the second half of the poem was a reality for you or a deeply sensitive emphathetic write. If it is about a personal loss, I am so so sorry for your loss. If it is the latter, you really pull us into the grief in your usual expert fashion. Life is so precious and loss is so permanent. Just.....hugs....jo |
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