He was to be her first.
She planned and dreamed,
preparing his room,
buying tiny clothes.
He came early one morn,
screaming protest,
red-faced fury turning
to contented coos as
he was presented to his mother.
He grew up and attended school,
teased onward by each threshold,
relentlessly drawn by
each new horizon --
new things to learn,
new things to do.
His hopes and dreams
knew no boundaries.
They shimmered in delicious anticipation.
He thrived in life.
His country called:
he answered, a patriot:
his father's pride,
his mother's anguish.
He served with honor,
peace in his heart,
courage in his soul --
he died in a far-off land.
The hopes and dreams of a lifetime
came home today --
in a box.
They laid a hero to rest, today,
military honors, color guard,
a flag presented to Mom.
Twenty-one shots fired,
a final salute.
Her shoulders jerked at each volley.
With streaming tears,
she hugged all that was left
of the dreams of a lifetime:
a hero's flag.
If the truth be known. Very endearing, heartfelt as many wives, mothers and fathers stand on the side lines waiting, always waiting. A time to remember and honor all who came before...
As the daughter, sister, niece and cousin of Veterans, as well as a USAF Veteran, myself, thank YOU for honoring sacrifices made and paid by those who serve, as well as their families. God bless you, and all who've ever donned the uniform in service to their country. We owe them EVERYTHING, because they've given their all.
You wrote an excellent heart-breaking poem of a mother's loss, her treasured child coming home in a box and all she could hug is a flag. Pain will go on for her while her child's memory won't even be in the thoughts of the nation he died for. Tragedy of wars.
Cynthia
Reviewed by Peter Schlosser (Reader)
Reviewed on May 20, 2009
Very good poem. Great imagery and tragic. I love the "far off land" part. Great place to die. Spreading democracy, or shall we say neo-liberal economic policies at the behest of transnational corporations which own our politicians. I hope it was a nice flag.
Early Works is an exhaustive compilation of the first decade of the poems and stories of Z.B.McClure. Included are family photos, rare personal photos, photos of 1st draft manuscripts of many of his early poems. Also some biography and memoir materia
First Edition Translation of Teselas by Carmen Crespo X111 César Simón Poetry Prixe 2016 Translated from Spanish by Robin Ouzman Hislop and Amparo Arrospíde
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Be always safe,
Karen
As the daughter, sister, niece and cousin of Veterans, as well as a USAF Veteran, myself, thank YOU for honoring sacrifices made and paid by those who serve, as well as their families. God bless you, and all who've ever donned the uniform in service to their country. We owe them EVERYTHING, because they've given their all.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Cynthia
EDWIN