A Proud Marine

A majestic Marine Who was always was there No other human being Could possibly compare No possible word Could ever truly describe For every mention of his name My heart and eyes fill with pride He was a United States Marine Illustrious and respected Yet he demanded none He was always there To protect his dear grandson The last few years Were Oh so agonizing to see To watch a hero that once stood so strong As solid as a tree Crumble into a powerless Helpless man Yet he fought As if on the shores of Japan No matter how steep the slope He never lost hope It’s been Two years and seven days Since he passed in the fight The only thing he would have said Was "it’ll be all right" Never was there a man More worthy of the stars He even had A few battle scars He fought at Iwo Jima And Guadalcanal And received the Purple Heart On the island of Guam He held so much respect For the soldiers of foot That his own role He overlooked When we converse My parents hold true retention The day I was born Daddy Joe began to spoil me with attention They said his heart Was in another dimension The most excruciating pain I have ever known Was watching my strong Marine Whittle away to the bone No possible word in diction Could ever possibly explain The gratitude I feel, to have His blood in my veins I love you Daddy Joe Semper Fidelis Written in loving memory and tribute to my grandfather Joel Allen Harris MAH