The Fallen One

The coffin is in the hearse, flag draped with pride The fallen one is silent, as he takes his last ride He is not the only one, many before have also gone Giving their life in battle, never to face another dawn Somewhere a mother mourns, for the son she will never again see Somewhere a father's heart breaks, for the daughter who sat upon his knee Somewhere a brother is angry, he lost a sister to war Somewhere a sister cries silently, for the brother she adored Somewhere a wife's tears fall like rain, her husband gave his all Somewhere a husband grieves in pain, his wife answered duty's call Somewhere a son weeps for a mother, his head bowed in prayer She gave her life for her country, does anyone truly care? Somewhere a daughter weeps for a father, she loved ever so true She may never understand, what war asked her father to do The hearse travels to the cemetery, a freshly dug grave does await A place to hold the fallen one, the one who met their fate Family and friends, sad and proud, gather around the grave To give honor to the fallen one, who with valor their all they gave In a moment of silence, people gaze upward to the skies Pondering somber thoughts, as tears fill their eyes War has taken another loved one, war has taken another friend Many now wonder, wonder if it will ever end The flag is folded carefully, in a loved ones hands it is placed The pain of their loss is great, it will never be erased The bugler stands ready, he has done this many times before He longs for the day, when his tune is needed no more Hearts break as the coffin, is lowered into the dirt On this day for those left behind, nothing can ease their hurt The pain of loss will linger, loved ones will feel it for many years The sound of the gun salute, now echoes in their ears The star spangled banner, flies high above the ground As for the fallen one, Taps mournfully sounds