Soldier's Cadence

'Soldier's Cadence'

A father's pride, a mother's delight, life progresses  
Elastic hugs, warming comfort, floating dark.
Dreamy days, muted sounds, soft caresses.

Pushing throbbing, urgent contracting, curious lights
Quickening beats, seeking release, shoving limbs
Resonant cries, hands grasping, wondrous sights 

Holding arms, stroking hands, loving sighs  
Caring bosom, tender embrace, comforting words  
Always soft, ever near, sleepy lula-byes

School bells, teenage trials, boyhood done
Ball grounds, puppy love, evening gowns
Studies over, manhood near, an American son

Country calls, Army braid, bugle sounds 
Barracks life, dusty trails, sweating strains
Parade grounds, graduation cheers, pride abounds. 

Assignments given, War bound, stomach flutters
Nerves steeled, loved ones calmed, plane departs
Landing bounce, wings groan, prop shudders

Days blur, nights swelter, soldiers cope
Hellish sights, endless nights, chilling fear
Departure nears, date held dear, family's hope.          

A rifle shot, a medic yells, a soldier falls.
Holding arms, hard embrace, fearfilled sighs.  
Caring hands, calming voice, death calls.  

Flag draped, uniform medaled, homeward bound.
Coffin lowers, salute rendered, flag offered  
A mother's broken heart, a father's anguished sound.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Johnson Avatar
May 30, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Thank you Gene. I would love to have you keep it. Hope you enjoy it here in Poetry Soup. I have enjoyed it very much since I got involved. Love, joyce
Johnson Avatar
May 30, 2010 at 6:39 PM
This is a wonderful poem and says it all. I saw my own go off to that nasty Viet nam war but lucky for me he was not sent out to fight but was in intelligence and kept in an office. We mothers and dads raise our sons with such care and love, how can we be asked to send them off to war to kill and be killed. I have one in my file that you might like. It's called the "Old Soldier" and is on World War Two, which was the war my age was in. Lost lots of friends. Love, Joyce
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