Soldier Poet

For years he proudly wore the uniform of his beloved nation, Fighting in many conflicts seeing mankind's terrible desecration. In the heat of battle he often looked beyond the horrible strife, When one day he could pen his dreams about the good things in life. He tried to erase from his mind the lingering nightmare of battle, The clash of steel, the billowing smoke and the musket's rattle. He retired to a peaceful life and forsook the weapons of war, To muse and write of ordinary things, letting his imagination soar! He wrote of the magnificence of a beautiful, fragrant rose, And the peaceful innocence of little children in repose. The grandeur of the Creator's mountain, stream and plain, Trees, sunshine, the moon, the stars and life-sustaining rain. He wrote of children anxiously pondering choices at a candy store, And of mighty waves from far-away places rushing to the shore. He told of the virtues of attending Church and Sunday School, To handle others with loving care, as if each were a precious jewel! It says in the Good Book there'll always be wars and rumors of war, But the old soldier had seen the folly of war and made it his chore, To espouse a truism he had learned, this a very simple rule: "If folks would follow The Golden Rule, they'd be apt to be less cruel!" Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)