Poems and Stories 3
**_THE FINAL INSPECTION _**
** ***
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?"
"To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint."
"I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough."
"But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep."
"And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears."
"I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
~Author Unknown~
The young lady who wrote this as part of a middle school language arts
assignment was shown a photo of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. She was
then asked to write a story on what she saw in the picture.
GEN Schoomaker
CSA
"Heroes Carved in Stone"
By Sabrina Stidham
I stood staring in awe as my gaze settled upon a black granite wall of
memories.
As I stood there not a muscle in my body twitched, except for the
rhythmic beating of my weary heart.
Before me, a great wall, with the names of Fathers, Sons, Mothers,
Daughters; Soldiers; Heroes...carved in stone. As I looked at the
granite I saw behind it. A scene of tangled jungles, mud covered boots,
people crying, as their lives came to an unwritten end. On the ground I
saw the bodies of fallen soldiers, bloody and cold from death. In my
heart I felt their pain and fear, which lingered in their unforgotten souls.
In my mind I could see them standing around me, in what was left of
their tiger-striped tattered camouflage. Blood covered, dirty calluses
had formed on their hands, and memories of home were lost in the
emptiness of their stares.
I saw beside me the American Flag, still and unmoving in the bustling
air. I shivered at the eerie sight. Suddenly, I felt that I wasn't
alone, as though I were in the presence of a soldier; I paused, not
believing in my feelings. A chill went down my spine as I felt a touch
on my shoulder. I turned to see a woman; a mother, with tears in her
eyes, reading the name of her son. At that moment I realized that the
soldiers have not been forgotten. They live on in our hearts; then, now,
and forever.
As I turned to leave, I hesitated; looked back at the wall and said
aloud, "Thank You", and I swear I heard a voice carried on the wind
whisper..."Never Forget".
Saturday, October 20, 2007 05:15:07 PM