Lest We Forget
I remember
reading history
Like stories
in a book
Of men who
went to war
Soldiers
giving their young lives
To save us
from the multi-hordes
Who sought to
overcome us
And take our
way of life
They were
words on pages
Until my
father spoke
Of sacrifices
his brother made
To save us
from the enemies harm
The lonely
boy, his mother busy
Working hard for
the war effort
Long hours
his mother toiled
Positioning airplane rivets
In the planes
design
The time and
skill his sister gave
Nursing
soldiers in the field
I saw the
pain they suffered
Their faces
lines revealed
The pride of
their duties too
The trials
they went through
My father's words
brought all alive
As he told me of
his brother’s death
His mother’s
grief and then her joy
When his
brother was resurrected
The pain he
felt for others
Who would
never come home
It gave me
pause to think
And thank the
soldiers
Who fought so
hard
To save our
country
From all the
enemies’ harm
Thank you seems
not enough
But it’s all
I can say
As the sun goes down
And the taps do play
Thank you soldiers
We remember your sacrifice
Everyday.
A Debt Unpaid
Your eyes bright, shiny and new
You heard the cry, the battle song
The proud, the brave, the few
The trip was quick, the journey long
As the battle raged on, and on
You endured much and became wan
You suffered weather, land, friend, and foe
Still you moved forward, a tough battle to hoe
Your decisions made by faceless men
No compromise did they send
You did your duty and sought to win the war
As all around you the casualties began to soar
Many soldiers paid, a considerable sum
That we might breathe the air of freedom
You laid down your young lives
So we could have no battle and strife
We honour you because you fought
For the peace we sought
Your country owes you greatly
We should honour you most stately
Your sacrifice we can never repay
So we honour you this and everyday
We remember, let the memory never fade
That we owe a debt, never ever repaid.
©Sheilagh Lee November 9, 2012
