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Open Poetry #34
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Tori Meets A Veteran (posted for Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day)
| Open Poetry #34 |
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Tori Meets A Veteran (posted for Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day) |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada 
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 ~*Tori Meets A Veteran *~ I had taken my Granddaughter shopping. There outside the door of our local mall, Stood an old man selling poppies, Though now bent, he’d once been tall. I couldn’t help but notice As he flashed us a “store-bought” grin, Around his neck hung a box of poppies, For a donation you got one on a pin. Normally I'd just hand him my dollar Take the poppy and be on my way, But Tori tugged on my hand that day, Intent on hearing what he had to say. “My name is Tori, what’s your name?”, She smiled a sweet smile up at him. “I’m Albert, and I was once a soldier, So I’m selling these poppies on a pin. Well, Albert’s uniform was now to tight, It reeked of age and more than one mothball. Bending down to Tori he put on her poppy, Winked at her, calling her a little doll. He said he’d been there for hours, He did this service gladly every year, He had so many war stories to tell, but … His family just didn’t seem to want to hear. His pride shone on his medals and buttons As they glinted in the bright afternoon sun. We let him brag about his feats of valor, All the battles he’d been in, and won. Uncles, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, Had done duty for their country. and then some, He said they were now just all fading pictures Tucked away in some old musty family album. For this proud, uniformed man standing there Somehow I couldn’t help but feel some pity. Seems a lot of people don’t respect this day, Any more in the hustle of a modern day city. This sweet man was someone’s grandfather, Who went to war keeping his grandkids free, People were rushing past, ignoring him Not one stopped to buy his offered poppy. I guess all they see is a frail old man, Who chooses to keep living in the past? I even heard a young man remark in passing, “How long is this poppy thing going to last?” Well he had been a respected soldier once, Answering the call to serve a nation, keep it free. He and others went to war for all of us; He stands for the freedom enjoyed by you and me. Tomorrow when the world is supposed to stand still While overhead all the war planes go buzzing by, Let’s show respect for just 2 minutes, that’s all … Stop, and say a little prayer for those who did die. I always think of Tori and Albert on November 11th, And all the things about the wars that he said. He's lived through two wars, lost a leg, and his son, 2 minutes doesn’t seem long to honor the dead. Or is it? |
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| © Copyright 2004 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved | |||
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myheart Member
since 2004-11-05
Posts 160lost in your eyes |
Mysteria, thankyou for sharing this memory with us all. No, we should ever forget, nor should a few minutes out of one day be a bother. Each and everyday we should take time out to honour those taken, those still here, and those continuing to serve. ~myheart~ |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
 I remember this one Sharon... Thank you for sharing it with us again this year. We shall never forget. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Sharon, I applaud you on this very important message that you have so eloquently expressed. It appears that Tori has inherited more than just her grandmother's good looks, ~ she has inherited your loving heart. I hope you send this to newspapers, veteran organizations, magazines etc. This poem is well worth the read ~ and remembering! Love, Peace & Harmony, Linda |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Ooops! Just popped back in to save it!  |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
Sharon bless your heart for this one...this is so very beautiful! The greatest beauty on earth, is |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Sharon, No poppies to offer, but I could give you a big  |
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NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
Hi Sharon ... I started to cry when I read this. So many gave so much for us. Our freedom is something we take for granted and how sad that is. I will never forget walking through Arlington National Cemetery when my uncle, a retired Army man who served 3 terms in Vietnam, passed on. So many white crosses embedded now in my heart. And how many more will die in Iraq? hugs and thank you for sharing this. Marti A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
This is a heart tugger! Two minutes is definitely NOT too long. Freedom isn't free - as our veterans will tell us. Thank you for the remembrance. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
You are all very kind, and I wanted to tell you that today we repeated this incident that actually did happen but two years ago. My daughter-in-love, and the two girls came to visit and we went out of our way to find some veterans to talk to. The veterans are apparently visiting schools today talking to students before services tomorrow, and so they were kind of scarce, but we found a couple to listen to. It felt good  Remembrance Day means more to me now than just remembering both World Wars. With trouble being everywhere these days I have modified its meaning a bit to suit the times, and love this day and set it aside to thank all the women too who have shared their men who fight for our freedom, in EVERY country. Bless them all! |
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