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Semper Fidelis
| Open Poetry #32 |
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Semper Fidelis |
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Kevo Member
since 2004-06-02
Posts 466Navarro County, Texas, USA 
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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 it's errosive 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. Clandestined thoughts cloaked in invincibilty reveal the truth. He fears the ultimate sacrifice yet hartily 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, 2004 |
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| © Copyright 2004 Kevin Reese - All Rights Reserved | |||
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
 Could you have pulled any harder on my heart strings; I think not. Our Veterans have sacrificed so much and the living ones still do. What an absolutely beautiful write and I'm sending it to a dear friend of mine. Thanks for penning it.  ....jo |
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Michelle_loves_Mike
since 2003-12-20
Posts 1189Pennsylvania |
This work took my breath away, and brought tears to my eyes,,,and believe me, that is not an easy task to do. I have always been surrounded by veterans,,,,and I know, they have given so much, left families in limbo for months, some forever-not coming home, keeping their pain deep and buried, only a soul deep stare lets you have a glimpse of the truth within their hardened facade. Ive seen, first hand, how veterans, as well as the active troups, are ignored, forgotten, and disprespected. My son asked me once, not too long ago standing on the board walk in Atlantic City, in front of the Korean War Memorial,,,why I was crying....... I told him all about how his grand pa (Pappy Ray) had fought in that , so called, non-war,about the ribbons and medals he had locked away in an old foot locker in the attic, and why he would get so quiet when they spoke of war time things.( i miss you daddy) Yes, your work,,,,hits me deep, not from first hand knowledge, but, from what Ive seen and felt. Im sorry if this reply is too long. Michelle I wish all could find the true happiness I have found,,in the eyes of Mike |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Kevo A worthy write, well done. |
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Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Semper Fi,,, indeed Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again... |
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Kevo Member
since 2004-06-02
Posts 466Navarro County, Texas, USA |
Thank you all for reading and replying. Michelle, no your post was not too long I appreciated your every word and give my respect and solidarity to your Pappy Ray. I served 8 years and saw and felt how difficult a task it is to readily commit to the basic ideal that you may fight, and die for those you don't know. Even worse, you can't tell your family, many times, where you're going or when you'll return. Those are tough calls to make to your mother when you're already on the other side of the world. It's something we all felt but never talked about. Many were correct in their assessment and their deepest fears. They have not returned. Having said that, I never met one Marine by my side in the 8 years I served that would have had it any other way. This country people tend to run down is the best in the world. I've been around it and the one thing I always had at the forefront of my mind with everyplace I've been is how lucky we are to live here. Think about how many people run down our country that are offered the same protection from oppression. In the words of Hank Williams, Jr. "Yes, we've got our problems, but you don't see those refugees heading the other way." Semper Fi! Kevo |
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Michelle_loves_Mike
since 2003-12-20
Posts 1189Pennsylvania |
......(((((kevo)))))...... I wish all could find the true happiness I have found,,in the eyes of Mike |
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