Best Memorial Day Poems
~Homeless~
A lost guardian angel, sitting on the edge of everything
I push my shopping cart along the cracks of destiny
My house sits on the corner of every mission street
My tin coffee cup feeds on caring heartbeats
My possession is the icon of war, six missing buttons
Navy and white my grandfathers 70-yr-old military tunic.
My Jacket- My blanket
My Jacket from which I am inseparable
My Jacket - represents the mobility of life
This Jacket is my home.
The storm was wildest when
He walked on water
The vines were at their greenest
He turned water into wine
For faithfulness, union and reunion
When men would forsake all of God
He will return for His Beloved
Who is He? An open, unfolding mystery
Because He loved so much He bled and bled
For His country and Family
Noor* of Taj Mahal, jeweled in red stone
death or love, tranquil oasis alone
rich jasper and jade hanging on its walls
in cold melody, mourning music falls
Mesmerizing bride in gossamer gown
Veil reveals... the majestic palace crown.
A medley of corsage strewn in sealed dream
opulent facade, beauty is the theme
Pale blue sky in her iconic magic
wax melded moonlight triumphs a tragic
covenant of love, splendor celebrates
passion so strong will never recreate
Aurora of a queen in marble white
glinting Yamuna*, her sole copyright.
* Noor is an urdu word meaning Light
* Yamuna is the river on the banks of which Taj Mahal lies.
Taj Mahal means Crown of the Palace
19th July 2019
Sponsor William Kekaula
Contest Name ILMO My Mom 06-24-29-08-04-09--90th Heavenly Birthday--The Most Beautiful Sonnet
My only son once asked me why
A fine mist, today, enveloped my eye
As I began his query to answer
Caught in my throat, a battle cry
May 27, 2019
Memorial Day, USA
Favorite Poem from May, 2019
Sponsor: Julie Ward
Placement: N/A
Love our enemies as ourselves
Let he who is without sin throw the first stone
Turn the other cheek
He who does wrong to the least of us
Does wrong to me
Crucified c. 33
With malice toward none and charity toward all
If slavery is not wrong, then nothing is wrong
Let us listen to our better angels
Shot—killed 1865
Heaven welcomes the decent of all faiths
God does not favor man above woman
All should be afforded the opportunity and
Means to rise above their caste
Shot—killed 1947
One should not be judged by the color of their
Skin, but by the content of their character
Only the power of love can conquer hate
I may not get there with you, but I have
Been to the mountain, I have seen
the promised land
Shot—killed 1968
Written 5/30/22
A people persecuted beyond imagination;
To help them he felt, was his obligation.
He joined the army in World War II;
Not knowing his hell would be Eyes of Blue.
When he reached Normandy, the beaches were red.
Crawling over his brothers who lay already dead.
To give this tyrant, this devil his due;
Not knowing his own demons, would be Eyes of Blue.
He rounded a building securing a town;
A young German soldier was just coming round.
He plunged his bayonet, the quicker of the two;
Killing the young soldier, with Eyes of Blue.
He knelt down beside him with tears in his eyes;
How long this moment would last, he did not realize.
He closed the eyes as he thought he should do;
Thinking never again to see those Eyes of Blue.
The victor over many in Germany and Japan;
It was always difficult taking life from a man.
None would haunt him, this he now knew;
As long as the soldier, with Eyes of Blue.
He died an old man, to heaven he went;
For this honorable soldier, mercy was sent.
First time since the war, so sad but true;
A peaceful sleep, not seeing Eyes of Blue.
Lights Out
One hundred years on and still the shout
“Everyone put your lights out”
Just for an hour from 10 to 11
And remember all those souls in heaven
One hundred years and still the cry
The perennial unanswered question “why?”
Is there a need in this hour of deed
For any to ignore or not to heed?
One hundred years, millions dead
In battles, wars and streets of dread
Trenches then, now car bombs blast
Tearing at families left aghast
One hundred years – again LIGHTS OUT
Not one city but the country throughout
Is this too much to ask ourselves
For those who died through bayonet and shells?
Lights out and let us honour our dead
Light a single candle in room or shed
Remember those terse words upon us yet
“Lest we Forget – lest we forget!”
August 4th 2014
Most of us play, our lives like a game
Both ends of our candle, consumed by the flame
Choosing a curtain, buying a vowel
Planning tomorrow, forsaking the now
In days gone by, not so long ago
We were dreaming of spring, through icy windows
Fields of green clover, budding trees and daffodils
Cooling homemade cobblers, on open window sills
Walking barefoot in the yard, after warm morning showers
Lost in our daydreams of sweet smelling flowers
Now June awaits, with anticipating brides
Spring has sprung, as we hear distant tides
Our minds look ahead, to tropical destinations
Free time with loved ones, on family vacations
Camping, hiking, perhaps water skiing
Traveling far away, for some casual sight seeing
While we're relaxing, with minds elsewhere
Spending today, on tomorrow's big dare
In the hot summer sun, we'll think of the snow
Taking for granted, the time that we blow
For Americans, tomorrow is Memorial Day
Religious or not, we should all stop and pray
For all the people, who gave their lives
At home and abroad, for their sacrifice
Fighting and dying, for the time that we waste
Ask God to love them and show them His grace
Pray for their families, for the love they lost
Paying the price, with the ultimate cost
Think of the fallen, lost in their prime
Be thankful for them and keep them in mind
an original poem by the "Poemdog" Daniel Turner
Those were my green and salad days,
a time of innocence and play, where
marbles shone like pearls and
every trinket was a treasure.
The world was simple, a canvas of pure joy
school, home, and the familiar corners of my aunt's house
were the boundaries of my kingdom.
I was a prince, carefree and unburdened,
unaware of the complexities that lay beyond.
My father, the silent architect of my happiness,
waged wars against invisible foes,
his struggles hidden behind a veil of stoicism.
I floated through those days,
buoyed by blissful ignorance,
until a stark awakening came.
It was etched into my memory,
a moment as indelible as an inscription on copper
the day he sold his wedding watch to pay for my education.
For the first time,
I felt the sting of tears for another's sacrifice.
It was a profound shift,
a departure from the self-centred orbit of childhood.
Emotions painted the moment in vivid hues,
a portrait of empathy and maturity
emerging from the canvas of my youth.
For a poetry contest, inspired by a memory.
©15/09/2014
I was a soldier of the past
And I know im not the last
I signed up to serve my Queen
Far off lands I have seen
As that soldier I done my best
Losing friends laying them to rest
We fought for what was only right
Giving freedom to others at night
As bullets flew and bombs exploded
My thoughts and mind just imploded
I could not say I wasn't scared
But my vision was not impaired
The smell of cordite all around
Waiting for the alarm to sound
Then the order of stand fast
Hoping this attack would not last
They come at us with all they have
Rpgs and a Gustav
We hold firm and do not falter
It's not our turn at the alter
Be brave young man I have to shout
As the young man does scream out
I've been hit this is bad
I wish I was with my mum and dad
It's ok you will be fine
It's a promise that is mine
The bombardment ends and we look up
Let's sort this out my young pup
Gingerly we give first aid
That is why we get paid
We stretcher him out to the heli pad
In a few days he's with mum and dad
After a while I go to see
That young soldier who layed before me
He's up and about and full of cheer
Winks at me we go for a beer
For those guys that didn't survive
We raise a glass cuddle and cry
For all the new guys on your career
Wish you well I got your ear.
The fields are now quiet,
The thunder long gone;
The graves with their shadows
Stretch on and on.
The battle once here
Lives but in the past,
Of a war meant to be
Of all wars the last.
The flags and the trumpets,
The glory and fear,
Led men to battle;
Led but to here.
A street lamp illumines our rain soaked flag
as soft filtered shades of red white and blue
try to let sparkles of light glisten through.
Peace fills the night as a zephyr shapes rain,
yet our mourning hearts have an ache for you.
As dawn crests the mountains and paints our
twilight sky, in pink, purple, then a golden hue,
today we remember those who fought far-away,
and let us not forget all their loved ones too.
Our memories we recall in our own sacred way.
Let us give thanks for their sacrifice; Never forget,
the countless dear lives of our soldiers unknown;
and thousands whose names in stone that are set.
Let us have faith, their spirits to heaven have flown.
So today let us offer our love in a heartfelt prayer
to pray for families whose loved ones have died.
Lord please bless them all, let them know we care.
Let there be peace for all on this earth who abide.
© Connie Marcum Wong
Blessings on Memorial Day
Rows and rows and rows of white crosses,
Like sentinels -stone-fixed to the ground.
The wind like a shroud wraps around them,
Enshrining each space where they're found.
Stone guardians stand at attention,
Into the distance -row after row.
O' mourn those hallowed internments,
Where our heroes are resting below.
Rows and rows and rows of white crosses,
With their numbers increasing with years.
And graves that are drenched by the weeping,
Will never run dry of our tears.
Now the soil is the dead's lonely blanket,
Below - and everlasting - at rest.
Those keepers -yes -all those white crosses,
Announcing -'Here lie the Best of the Best.'
Rows and rows and rows of white crosses,
All those warriors were yields of our lives.
And the harvest of what all wars cost us,
Are plowed under and nothing survives.
There is green lawn laid like a carpet,
That covers our heroes repose.
Outstreched are the arms of the crosses,
In a garden where nothing else grows.
That time of year has come again
When we reflect and remember them
Polish our boots and press our kit
Remember those fallen that didn't make it
We shine our medals
Place them on our chest
Remember our friends
We have laid to rest
Remember those that went before
Those that were lost in another war
People think it's for soldiers old
Now it's time for them to be told
Rightly so we should do it with pride
Mark of respect for them that died
Show the world they didn't die in vain
For there families I feel the pain
They fought for our freedom of speech
And died on a foreign beach
Yes I'm talking about Dunkirk
And you may think I'm beserk
Without these acts of soldiers past
Would we be here and talk so fast
So on this day in mid November
I ask you all to sit and remember
The 11th hour on the 11th day
Shall be known as armistice day
When we wear a flanders poppy
And some of us may get soppy
It is good to let the tears flow
It shows gratitude to those that know
So as you see me March past
I was a soldier and not the last
There are veterans in there early twenties
Who stand tall and tears are plenty
Bravery and courage may appear less
No whistle blows but I digress
The point of this is to say
If only war would go away
These men and women have survived
Some of them burning up inside
So remember the fallen that is right
Bear a thought for servicemen tonight
And all those veterans on parade
Bow your head as they have stayed
R.I.P all personell who have passed
CARPE DIEM
It was the summer - August 4
When England joined the First World War
1914 the very year
Before wives and children shed their bitter tears
‘The war to end wars’ was the battle cry
Before there had been one widow’s sigh
The men lined up by the score
To enlist, sacrifice themselves to this bitter war
Friends and families made their mark
Pals regiments were formed in town and park
From factories, clubs, offices and farms
They became privates, sergeants, men at arms
And off they went through the streets
Not knowing that they were cannon meat
Cheered and applauded as they marched
Toward war’s verdant fields not yet parched
“It’ll be over by Christmas” came the call
“Get over there one and all”
No one of them, home or abroad
Had ever heard of “Total War”
Posters beckoned from every wall
Poets wrote of war’s enthrall
Songs and stories came thick and fast
Glorifying war and our heroic past
But very soon came the acrid truth
Millions dead - “Anthem of Doomed Youth”
Trial by ordeal and fire and zeal
A generation gone through war’s sharp steel
The sombre, bitter, vile death-calls
Quickly killed the tunes of the music halls
Wounded, dead, disfigured men
Many mutilated beyond any ken
At the end it was all for naught
That carnage in each battle fought
Kings deposed and Empires lost
But the worst thing was the human cost
One hundred years to this very day
Like then we shake our heads and say
Still in wars our sons and daughters die
To all that is holy, why? oh why?