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Moment of Truth
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Moment of Truth |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania 
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I hope you don't mind the intrusion. I just came across this forum's subject for the month and wanted to try a ballad. This is an elaboration of a Memorial Day poem that I wrote called "The Wall". But the story has changed , and of course the meter Moment of Truth A soldier stood before the granite monument of names Like tablets sent from heaven, they were sacred to his heart For there he found in letters etched, a father and a friend Whose portrait has remained the same since they have been apart His fingers on the name was like a touch upon his face So close he felt in spirit to the Dad who loved him well Recalling days of happiness in early childhood His heart began to flutter and his eyes began to swell Then gazing in the polished blackness at the break of day He saw the sprawling lawn and trees across the empty mall Where he had walked in silence on that early Sunday morn In view of Lincoln’s watching eye as he approached the wall Reflections were so vivid in the mirrored glaze of truth The memories of grief that day no child could conceive In stories told of where and how his father came to die By military men of honor he did not believe They placed a medal in his hand as they began to speak Recalling all the sacrifices of the bold and brave His father was a hero and a martyr in the eyes Of those who saw him risk his life for all the lives he saved “Some day, young man, you’ll understand the word “integrity” For this one word describes to me your father’s words and ways And you will truly honor him for how gave his life This medal is your heritage for all your living days” These words that now came back to him, brought nightmares to a boy Who’s vision in the dark of night consumed each panting breath In dreams he saw not bravery, but suffering and pain His father left alone to bleed in moments of his death He placed his trembling fingers to the wall of black once more And touched his fathers cheek as he had done when just a lad And there before him in the glassy stone appeared a face The soldier looked into his eyes and said, “I love you, Dad” Then suddenly the truth appeared, the names were all erased The Viet Nam Memorial became a battle ground In mirrors of the past he saw an officer his age Entrapped in hell’s own fire with his men in his surround He led them out to safety, then went back to those who stayed And carried every wounded man with tricks that he contrived To fool surrounding enemy and buy just one more hour Until those men who would have died, had left that place alive His father was the last to go with soldiers on his trail And lost his life within the blasting bits of a grenade His courage was so witnessed and his love was known to all In dignity and honor, with his life the young man paid The truth then known, the soldier wept and felt a bit ashamed Of all of the uncertainties he felt throughout the years The names engraved upon the wall appeared just as they were The soldier turned to leave as he was wiping off his tears He felt his father watching as he walked across the green Then quickly turned around again and faced the stone of black Saluting to an officer, whose was deserved In mirrors of the gleaming wall, his Dad saluted back Elizabeth Santos [This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (edited 07-04-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Elizabeth Santos - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Elizabeth~ *applause* *applause* *applause* What a splendid telling. I caught myself saluting~ You captured my attention throughout the entire piece. Wonderfully done, dear poet. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Dr.Moose1 Member Elite
since 1999-09-05
Posts 3448Bewilderment , USA |
Elizabeth , The story-tellers art has certainly not deserted you on this one . Go to the head of the class . Doc |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Did Elizabeth say something about INTRUSION??? I certainly hope not...  |
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