The Veteran

A long time ago, in a land far away,

a young man stood on the sod.

With the wind at his back and the rain in his face

He stood looking upward to God.

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Why am I here?, he asked to himself.

What is it they want me to do?

Why must I be so far away from

my home and the ones I love too?

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This land that I fight for ,it isn't my own,

The people I don't even know.

Away from the fighting,the blood and the tears,

is the place where I want to go.

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I know it's my duty and so I will stay,

for the time that they say it must be.

If I get out of here,back to family and friends,

I'll build a new future for me!

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He made it home safely,his life it was spared.

He did what he said he would do.

A home and a family his future he built,

But the memories he kept with him too.

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The faces of buddies who died in the field,

the noises,the pain and the strife.

Tonight in the darkness he stares at the stars,

and quietly reflects on his life.

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An older man now,the questions are gone,

the answer he finally can see.

For the children I raised ,and the ones to be born,

I fought so they all could be free.

La'Na R Brown 8/1/95

The "Cold" Black Wall

Your name, upon that cold black wall,

seems lost among them all.

Your name, upon that cold black wall,

is etched in, oh so small.

Your name, upon that cold black wall,

begins a shower of tears.

Your name, upon that cold black wall,

recalls my younger years.

Your name, upon that cold black wall,

is bittersweet to me.

Your name, upon that cold black wall,

reflects eternity.

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Their names, upon that cold black wall,

so many more have died.

Their names, upon that cold black wall,

so many others cried.

Their names, upon that cold black wall,

seem just as hard to bear.

Their names, upon that cold black wall,

for others make me care.

Their names, upon that cold black wall,

meant it wasn't only you.

Their names, upon that cold black wall,

mean others suffered too.

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The names, not on that cold black wall,

who watched their buddies die.

The names, not on that cold black wall,

who still, don't quite know why.

The names, not on that cold black wall,

whose lives will not be right.

The names, not on that cold black wall,

who silently, weep at night.

The names, not on that cold black wall,

who stand and shed their tears.

The names, not on that cold black wall,

who carry memories thru the years.

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I gaze upon that cold black wall,

built for all to see.

I gaze upon that cold black wall,

and peace comes over me.

While gazing on that bleak black wall,

I do not feel alone.

The names, etched on that "warm" black wall,

Brought all our loved ones home.

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La'Na R. (Merrill) Brown 6/14/89

Written in memory of my Brother

LCpl William F Merrill

KIA Vietnam 11/26/69