Friday, May 8, 2009

Martial Thoughts - for Paul Brandt

Wandering
in an old graveyard,
I came upon
an untended marker.

A man's name,
two dates,
USMC
and these words:
Peleliu, Iwo Jima, Okinawa.

That mute slab
spoke to me,
saying:

consider, Stranger,
in this world of blood and fire,
the final hope of glory -
not medals or praise,
but the exquisite good fortune
of dying at home
in your own bed.
- mce

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