That Day of Infamy

I would often hear my parents somberly recall That fateful December that changed it all The morning was Sunday, ....a day of rest They were getting ready for church, wearing their Sunday best The radio was playing Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" There was a sudden interruption of the peaceful interlude Although war had been brewing on distant shores This day was beginning, just as all the others before The sea was calm and the sun was shining The trees were waving, and the roses were climbing Hawaii was awakening, and the morning was calm Unaware that devastation would arrive with the dawn From out of the clouds, like a flock of birds Hunting the prey, not a word....not a word..... From the sky they appeared, those hawks in the air Planes diving low,....then bombing everywhere The sign of a sun, creeping in on death's wing Ships in the harbor...became graveyards so obscene Men sleeping in their beds, woke up to a hell The winds of war would last till the last survivor fell War has blackened peace on earth, a shameful violent path History keeps repeating with each twisted vengeful wrath My parents listened carefully to Roosevelt's chosen words And prayed for hope, that as I grew, that words of war would be unheard