The Soldier

a young man took on a great enterprise a career in the army and on a day in October when standing sentry at the Canadian War Monument while clouds sailed across the blue sky and a breeze touched fallen leaves . . . Nathan was shot in the back several times by a cowardly pernicious man he fell to the cold steps and before the tomb of the unknown soldier his life bleeding away (oh death is a guest unbidden) he felt many hands on his body shouting that seemed very far away a visage of faces hovered close then, everything faded and for Nathan time ceased as he began an astral journey (my mansion has many rooms I go to prepare a place for you) to traverse the celestial stars for his life had not a single blemish . . . all who watched that day wept an ocean of tears and left with a dampen cheek and forever scarred hearts clouds stilled sailed and a breeze still touched the fallen leaves_ _____________________________ October 30, 2020 Poetry/Free Verse/the soldier Copyright Protected, ID 10-1299-067-30 All Rights Reserved, 2020, Constance La France Written for the Standard contest, Eight word challenge 11 sponsor, John Hamilton, Judged 11/13/20 Third Place