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Open Poetry #44
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Some Gave All
| Open Poetry #44 |
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Some Gave All |
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Ringo 
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes 
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I know this is long, and I apologize. The inspiration was gotten from the song "Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus. I hope you enjoy it As I walked along a city street Absorbed in my own world Worried about my old pain A weary, old voice Broke into my consciousness Shaking me out of my selfish thoughts "Hey, Buddy, can you help me out? I'm hurting here. Please. It's cold at night Food doesn't come to me As mcu as it once did Give an old man a hand up, Hoss." He was the kind I normally walk by UncaringUnfeeling Unseeing Only to wonder later Had someone spoken at all Disgracefully attired With clothes filthy, tattered, and torn Shoes- holes, mud, barely there His hat was full of grease and faded Covering knotted, matted, dirt-caked hair Thew gloves that laughingly covered his hands Allowed two fingers their freedom With his palm peeking through The broken threads of cloth A jacket was draped over his shoulders If a jacket it realy was Thin Ripped Useless It caused me to come short As I began to walk by A patch on the sleeve Faded almost to monochrome A bird on a circle with an arrow Pierced through this mottled fog I call a brain "Tell me, Sir," I heard myself say "Could somewhere under this filth and stain Lie the heart of a warrior born?" He looked at me with weary eyes Ancient and ageless Understanding the universe More completely than one as myself "Well, Son," he said Voice thick with age "As you know where I've been Pull up a crate and I'll tell you who I am." We repaired to the comfort Of a restaurant nearby Paynig for his story the only way I could We got disapproving looks The longer we sat Those of the beautiful people Better than me Not willing to notice him As the waitress cleared our things He took his first orgasmic taste Of the coffee sat before him Then he sat back, lit a Winston Blew the smoke "3-4, Echo, that was my brand When my country sent me to fight My sister called me a killer My wife spit on me and left Hte man who sent me hated my being My Daddy just stayed away Me? I took to the streets To live among those throwaways Who really understood No one wants us or wants to know." We left there, our meal done Our conversation at an end. "Please, Sir, as a Brother, 2-5 Lima for me Allow me to give you the warmth of a night A bed to keep you safe tonight." As I went to sleep that night Safe with myself My deed of good complete I thought about the man Who thirty feet from me lay Of the graces given me That I did not meet a similar fate Upon awaking the next day I found my Brother asleep With the rest that one does not awaken from. He had been called to his final posting His final hours safe and warm He did not die alone As they carried him out of my house And into his final bed I vowed to recall his final words As he lied down to sleep. "Thank you, My Brother, For all of us forgotten Semper Fi" What would you attempt to do...if you knew you could not fail? |
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| © Copyright 2009 Bradly Stott - All Rights Reserved | |||
SEA
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
my goodness, a warning would be good!  you brought tears to my eyes.  more people should care... |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Ringo, I read this when you posted it and thought I had responded. Maybe it was meant to be that I return to it so much later and bring it back. Well done. Alison |
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Billie Cullimore Member
since 2009-03-27
Posts 315 |
Your poem brought tears to my heart as well as my eyes. My son was a Marene in Veat-Nam, Enough said. No he did not end up in the streets he was our hero. We know where he lies. Billie C. |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Billie, I am so sorry to read about your son. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with us. Alison |
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Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Alison... thank you for bringing this back.... it espeically means much to me as I am in the final strages of planning for an event to help Pizza For Patriots (http://www.pizzaforpatriots.com) Billie- I feel sadness for your loss, and salute your family for having someone with the courage to do what was unpopular and for giving his last measure. Semper Fi. But this one goes to eleven... |
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