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Pearl Harbor
| Open Poetry #11 |
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Pearl Harbor |
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Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
I stand upon this concrete deck And gaze into the crystal waters Seeing the outline of a ship Resting on the harbor floor The wind blows soft upon my face Ruffling the surface of the water Then up out of the waters depths A drop of oil rises Across the surface a rainbow spreads Silent in its beauty Legend says its sailors tears The cries of those trapped below A drop of oil a silent tear Fifty years and more have passed Since that day they gave the greatest gift On a lovely Hawaiian bay I stand here gazing at the wall At the names engraved in stone Fathers and brothers, uncles and sons Gone to the depths Another drop glistens rainbow bright As I add silent tears of my own For these men who never made it home Arizona I cry for you |
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| © Copyright 2000 Paula Finn - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Paula~ This is a stunning write. All this day, I thought of Pearl Harbor day and the men on that awful day in 1941. I couldn't come up with anything but tears. Thank you for shedding them here for me. You are a wonderfully thoughtful poet. *Hugs* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Paula I see the Arizona Memorial and the battleship Missouri every day from my work site. I have visited twice and it does touch your heart seeing how those men paid the ultimate price for our freedom. James |
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Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
Paula, this is utterly outstanding it really is, wonderful amazing work from you. Absolutely excellant Take care Mushy  Take back the hope you gave,- I claim Only a memory of the same Robert Browning |
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INclan Senior Member
since 1999-07-20
Posts 1024Indiana, USA |
Paula, Thank you for posting this outstanding rememberence. As I read you poem I was reminded of a similar situation and find that I can not imporve on the eloquence of the response given at that time. In keeping with the tone and intent of your work: "…We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced…." The Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863 ABRAHAM LINCOLN Again, GREAT job, Paula. Best Regards, INclan [This message has been edited by INclan (edited 12-08-2000).] |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Paula, this is so beautiful for those that have gone down in their ships. As a former sailor, I can feel the words that you have written very deeply. Thank you for writing this for them. BC |
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Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
nicely written Paula..you brought back some memories and feelings that i had.. when i lived in Hawaii and use to take my family and friends to Pearl Harbor..always a sad heartfelt feeling ..  ~Victoria~ A poem is never finished, only abandoned. - Paul Valery (1871-1945) |
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Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
Marge...the day sat heavy on my heart all day long and I just couldnt let it go by without some kind of ackowledgement...we tend to forget and we never should...thank you James... I have stood on those decks myself...the Missouri when she was dodcked in Bremerton, and the Memorial when I lived there in Hawaii...a more awesome feeling I cannot imagine...thank you Marsha...all the people who have given thier lives for their countries should be so honoured...thank you Inclan...every war has its heroes...and every war takes loved ones who deserve a lasting tribute...thank you Bill...then I am glad I could write this for you sir...thank you for the time you spent here...and for the time you gave keeping me and mine safe Victoria...I have been to quite a few memorials...but the Arizona touched me more than any other...I still have many yet to visit...they all deserve our tributes...thank you |
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