Semper Fidelis (Old one for Abe)

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Kevo
Member

since 2004-06-02

Posts 466
Navarro County, Texas, USA

0 posted 2005-05-01 12:16 PM

Semper Fidelis
For those who have forgotten.

Burdened by the lackluster hue
of a compromised world,
his brooding brow rests heavily
upon this laboring soul,
as does his pack and rifle
upon a weathered body.

And, as his gaze fixes upon
the camouflaged entourage before him,
he ponders the relevance
of a Will and Testament to invincibility.

Sweat augers its erosive course
beyond the Kevlar cover
to find refuge amid the salty mist
of this serpentine river
that so deftly carries the bounty
of principled foot.

The age old song plays deftly
upon my heart’s strings,
“The more we sweat in peace,
the less we bleed in war.”

I fail to recall who first uttered the words,
but in him they find their due refuge.
Bound to his duty if necessary
to lay down his very life for you.

For amid the blackest night
bides his tender secret.
He is not invincible... Shhhhh.
Do not so much as whisper it to the child
waiting for his father’s return.

Clandestine thoughts
cloaked in invincibility reveal the truth.
He fears the ultimate sacrifice,
yet heartily accepts its lethal bite.

To hold his sons and daughters in his arms,
and relish in the fragrance
of unconditional love no more.

Never to be lifted by
his mother’s tender arms again.

Never to be consoled
by the strength of his father.

Never to say I love you
without saying anything again.

To whom he has promised
his endless and devoted love
he willingly dispels for you,
though you do not know him.

He is your protector,
no matter your tongue.

You cherish him,
and he dies for you.
You spit on him,
and yet still he dies for you.
Discrimination,
eternally foreign to him.

He is ready,
to be no more than a fleeting memory
carried away upon the fragile leaf.
This is his gift to you.
Remember him.

Copyright, Kevin V. Reese, 2005

EvocativeVerse2
Senior Member

since 2003-09-10

Posts 1279

1 posted 2005-05-01 12:28 PM

This is a magnificent piece Kevin. One of the most powerful things I have laid eyes upon today. Excuse me while I scrape my eyes off the floor.

Abe
Senior Member

since 2003-05-28

Posts 694
Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end!

2 posted 2005-05-01 10:53 AM

Both great pieces, Kevin. Thanks!

Del "Abe" Jones
Mankind's greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology, it is the evolution of creativity.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

3 posted 2005-05-02 01:49 AM

Nice...James

Ringo

Member Elite

since 2003-02-20

Posts 3684
Saluting with misty eyes

4 posted 2005-05-02 09:28 AM

Semper Fi, indeed.

They took pictures of our dreams
Ran to hide behind the stairs
And said maybe when it's right for you, they'll fall

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

5 posted 2005-05-03 01:41 PM

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.