Tuesday, May 31, 2005

The Silent Generation; A Thank You Poem

One sunny day in Oakland,
In the gorgeous month of May,
I saw you stand and take a hand,
As you remember on this day.

Dressed all up in uniform,
Your cap is in your hand.
Your wrinkled face shows signs of wear;
As you listen to the band.

You cry when they play our anthem;
Salute to your military song.
Your brow is furrowed as you clearly remember
When everything was wrong;

The bullets pinging and men were screaming
You fought to stay alive.
And when your buddies failed to live;
It’s for victory that you strived.

And now today, in this month of May,
61 years after the fight
You see how God makes everything;
Even through pain; right.

I watched you end the service,
With a salute, smile, then tear.
And I felt a gratitude that only comes
From a hardship endured that year.

You walked away and I watched you go;
And my heart was like to burst
For what you did for me and my country
And the courageous young man you were.

- This did not happen in real life exactly; I just thought Oakland would be cool place to have it (we did go to a memorial service there yesterday) and the gratitude in my heart part was genuine.

Jennifer

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great poem Honey! Keep at it! I was thankful also for the sacrifice and patriotism of the men we honored yesterday. Thank God for men who serve and girls like you who recognize their service. I love you.
Dad

Michael said...

{thunderous applause} Excellent Poem, Jen, Excellent. You are linked once again

Iggy said...

AWESOME GF! As Patton said--and this isn't a quote--don't mourn the ones who have passed on--be grateful and celebrate that courageous men such as that lived! I too, am glad they were of service.

Pam in California

Anonymous said...

Jennifer, you have a God-given talent for poetry. I am in awe.

Minkey girl said...

Very touching

Allison said...

what a sweet sweet poem, girl.

Anonymous said...

Jennifer wrote a plan, simple and good poem!