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dedicated to my brother who like many before him is off to war and to those who have lost loved ones in the wars both present and past.


It’s autumn now.
It hardly seems real.
The house is quite.
But I can still hear your voice.
My memories of you are no longer bound in corporeal form.
They are but shadows that linger for too long on the wall.
Let me pin you the bulletin board in my heart.
Old photos and broken toys alike.
Remnants of our childhood.
Those happy years under the warm summer sun.
Seem so long ago.
In another lifetime.
I wasn’t there when they pinned the crossed rifles on your brand new uniform.
The tears of pride falling down our parents faces.
I miss you.
Now your off to hell.
The arid heat and choking dust.
The sounds of war.
Marching off to someone else’s created nightmare.
Like other soldier boys.
You are not alone.
A thousand kids have filled in the long line.
Lines stretching back into untold time.
Family’s ripped apart when death visited them often.
No longer were their homes filled with laughter.
Now they are filled with anguished cries.
Men in blue uniforms.
Finely dressed as if on parade.
Carry you wood embound.
Taps plays and the drums roll on their slow beat.
Folded flags presented solemnly.
Symbols of your sacrifice.
But it’s hard to believe your gone.
I can still hear you call my name from the dusty memories in the attic of my mind.
The years have worn me down like great waves break upon the rocks.
Little by little more of me is gone.
The photos in my heart.
Have faded with time.
But the presence of you in my soul remains.
The lingering warmth of our last embrace.
Still there, engraved on my skin.
From when you shipped out to now.
You are and shall always remain my brother.
This I promise.

Beautiful poem... I nearly started to cry. All I can say is that it's beautiful and very heartfelt.

I did cry. I feel really bad for all of those out there who have lost loved ones; no one deserves to go through that pain.

That is amazing! It is beautiful and well writen, wounderful job!