The Wall

Ihaven’t seen it (yet),

            But I survived it

Alongwith hundreds of thousands more

Wholeft no small part of a poor man’s soul

Lostand confused in a “no-man’s” war.

 

Fifty-eight thousand two two zero

Carvedon a wall of shimmering black.

FIVE-EIGHT-COMMA-TWO-TWO-ZERO

Brilliantbrave souls who didn’t come back.

 

Andtens upon tens upon thousands more

Whocame back unwhole in body, in-kind,

Tobe spat on, cursed and ridiculed by

Anation that seemed to be out of its mind.

 

Butthe wall stands tall and long and proud,

Themessage loud, the statement clear;

Thatthese represent the best of the best

Whogave everything without question or fear.

 

So,we view them with pride

            --With their brothers-in-arms –

Whenwe pause to reflect and recall.

Andshould we forget what true honor is worth

Weneed only stand close to the wall.