Salute
Bunker Hill, Yorktown, Lundy’s Lane,
Monterey, Bull Run, Gettysburg, Shiloh,
Antietam, St. Mihiel, Belleau Woods,
D-Day, Saipan, Iwo Jima, The Bulge,
Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill,
Ia Drang, Khe Sanh, Hamburger Hill,
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Famous battles in American history.
Washington, Scott, Grant, Lee, Custer,
Pershing, Patton, Eisenhower, Nimitz,
MacArthur, Westmoreland, Abrams.
Famous leaders in American history.
We are all familiar with these names and places.
But what about the nameless men and women?
The faceless citizens who gave up families, jobs,
education, comfort.
The ones who gave America their blood, bodies,
minds to defend us and set others free.
Their blood has stained countless lands.
Their wounds, physical and mental,
should remind us that freedom is not cheap.
The noncoms, privates, petty officers, junior officers.
The occupants of The Tomb of the Unknown,
the Punch Bowl, the French cemeteries, Arlington,
and countless unknown graves.
The living dead who suffer from grievous wounds
and PTSD.
These are the true heroes.
Categories:
nimitz, hero,
Form: Free verse
both are movie stars
the Dallas and the Nimitz
and stars in real life
Categories:
nimitz, military, ocean, sea,
Form: Senryu
nineteen-eighty-five
Budweiser was brought on board
U.S.S. Nimitz
Categories:
nimitz, military,
Form: Senryu
nineteen-eighty-five
off the coast of Lebanon
Nimitz served proudly
Categories:
nimitz, ocean,
Form: Haiku
Nimitz is still strong
the "Old Salt" is getting old
set to sail again
Categories:
nimitz, nostalgia,
Form: Haiku
I have memories of pier twelve
Right at the Norfolk Naval Base
Those memories I’ll never shelve
McDonald’s’ there to feed my face
I stood some sentry watches there
As my sister was in port too
During winter there is cold air
Without ID you won’t come through
I’ll never forget last time there
With my walker saw the Nimitz
And with a shipmate things to share
Today my life has some limits
Can’t run like I did back then
I drank and smoked much more too
Back then the ship was all men
Some say co-ed ships are true
Categories:
nimitz, family, food, friendship,
Form: Quatrain
nineteen-eighty-three
reporting onboard
USS Nimitz
she was in dry dock
Lee’s Restaurant
in Newport News
was my hangout
in shipyard days
playing pool
making friends
Budweiser
fine food
large tab
nice
Categories:
nimitz, food, friendship,
Form: Diminished Hexaverse
The earth's troubled seas
the Nimitz stood tall at sea
US Navy rides
Categories:
nimitz, peace, sea,
Form: Haiku
Alone in the dark
a place without limits
mind begins to attack
just like Nimitz.
Alone in the dark
where fear is known
no place to hide
chills to the bone.
Alone in the dark
something makes a noise
jumping from within
appearing to be poise.
Alone in the dark
in the midst of the night
remember this verse
“I am the way, the truth, and the light.”
Alone in the dark
doesn’t scare my Lord
for he stands beside me
and my faith is restored.
Alone in the dark
no need to be afraid
a peace begins to fill
as the fear begins to fade.
Alone in the dark
has now become my home
for my Lord walks beside me
wherever I may roam.
Alone in the dark
now gives me peace
I can meditate on him
as the world begins to cease.
Alone in the dark
waiting for the day,
for I dwell in thee
the light is on the way
By: Nathan Bane Leccese
© All Rights Reserved 05/15/2009
Categories:
nimitz, faith, hope, peace, upliftingfear,
Form: Rhyme