I love this. What a wonderful tribute to all the Veterans of all wars past, present and those of our inevitable future. Thanks for sharing such a powerful statement. Definitely one for my favorites folder. Shay

A picture speaks a thousand words. You've captured all of them far more concisely, and with pure eloquence. A timely write for Memorial Day. Thank you.
-Debra

ph, I love this Gene, almost like his last super, this is very real and I really like your take on it.

Gene,
and all them boys that were not ready to become a man just sends shivers throughout my skin.
Embraced ~ Embrassé
Vickie

pssst...I Just Love Crab Legs

Touching, powerful...so real.

A most timely and appropriate offering, Gene. Thank you. Love and peace,

Regis

A beautifully poignant picture of what we fight for, and what we lose to keep it.

I enjoyed the glimps of this soldier. How many have died for the right to be free...to have hope... and to prosper?

Very powerful writing,BUT well written sweet man...stay safe and well OK...Hugss

This is so graphic it was as though I were watching a movie. I loved your images.
And I like this style. I have tried it myself but you do it so well.
Great job not telling us to pull a remembrance from our minds but you gave us the scene for us to feed on.
Best holiday poem yet.
--RaeLynn

Gene - i like the way you created a memorial to soldiers without the shallow sentimentality that often passes for patriotism. You made your soldier real, especially with the lines:

unaware of the camera
lost in deviled crab
just a skinny boy without a name
quietly celebrating
his final leave perhaps

That image of him eating the deviled crab lingers.
Also liked how your title refers to the soldier unknown in(and unaware of) the photo. Also liked the irony at the end:

death glorified by the numbers
the great war to banish
war

Touching and elegant poem. - David

You share your thoughts of unknown soldier as if it were total recall, Gene...collective memory serves you well here...we thank you for this uniform poetry this Memorial weekend...be well always Gene.

Warmly,
Sage

those intimate punches of couplets "deafening shells/blinding fears" etc. .. . a gritty and poignant reminder/remainder of all that has been paid, been fought, within and without each man and woman. .. . a powerful thing here.
ness

Powerful write; very well written! Thanks for remembering the REAL reason why we celebrate Memorial Day! God bless our veterans!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :(

...and then came WW2, Korea,'Nam etc and so forth...war is never ending, nor do we stop defending...ed

Youth, captured forever in a photograph; to be lost by the horrors of war - a terrible cost, indeed - well penned, Gene, thank you for this rememberance of sacrifices, made - and paid -

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

So many have passed this way... poignant to a “P”.

Ron

So apropos your poetic words, Gene. So complete your story is for the reader...
A young soldier boy - in the pretense of a suave young man - caught in a moment of savoring his food...fast forward to the unthinkable...the horrors of devistaing war; gone is the young boy, even if he survives. Images to be repeated for near one hundred years afterward, and recalled from images hundreds of years before. Would that the beauty of their lives be remembered evermore. Thank you for this one, friend.
Blessings, Love, and Peace ~~ Micke

Gene I love the way you capture time and break it out of the cracks of a photograph...you transport us...Great read always

Wonderful for this Memorial weekend, may we all remember tham as you have. Great write my friend. Love, Bonnie