"Veteran's Day, 2013..."

A Monday's pause of a life memory.

"Semper Fi brothers and sisters, one and all."  Welcome home and thanks for being there.

"Veteran's Day, 2013..."

I hope you have warmth and sun 

where you are... 

here the winter's chill is near,

setting in for the season -

yet another reason

to look within

while outside IS a melancholy grin

of thought-full ...pause. 

The tree's colors are on the ground 

and fading into crumpled and crackling fodder -

next season's feeding

for todays' tomorrows.

Somehow that's right

in the manner of things.

the way and the plan - of things

The failings and fadings of realities

...of things.

The air is brisk

yet enveloped with the scents

and sense

of old and lost and new

life soon to be swept away

and along.

The taste of changes

already seen and the scenes

of yet-to-come

but known to be for the real

is always a breath

- not so very deep afterall -

away.

I don't suffer the grays

and the chill is too adept

at finding its ways

within and around

and yet

the silence is the key

to me.

It's heavy 

and thick with meaning -

a stew blending existence

with life seasoned by the memories

and wishes found and lost within.

There are windows - inside...

time encrusted

and heart trusted,

and fingertips and nails

trails grooved DEEP in the glass

panes and pains etched to the last

frames and frame of life's lost

and friends missing and missed.

There be places -

inside and 

so far beyond MERE real

...places where knees knelt

and tears found their home

...places where sunlight

burnt the walls black

...places where there were no hopes left over

as all the candles guttered and guttered

in their ruby glass

...places that come round again

and again in our days darkness

and our night's grasp.

Places where only God walked

and the rest of us crawled

amid the cries and crys

and our footprints faded into nothing...

You don't always know

you give your tomorrows too

when you live your yesterdays.

But, sometimes there wouldn't

be a tomorrow

but for someone's yesterday - ya know?

Chris

Author's Note

feel free

It's not always about war and death - few join with that thought in mind... it's about being there and helping, protecting those you care about. Serving as and when and where you are needed. Marines are in Tacloban, Philippines today helping as they can... it IS what our people do... help as they can.

Reviews

[Baby Ricochet]

A lot of civilians don't understand our motivation for joining. I didn't think much about IED'S, snipers, mortar rounds or RPG crews when I joined up. I wanted out of the crappy little town I was born in.
In that place my options were flipping burgers, pounding nails or selling crack. F**k that. Thank you for your service Marine. Semper Fi

[Chris]

I saw the WORLD! Walked where people today are green with envy. I walked places that no longer exist but for old and fading photographs that even digitizing didn't always save. I touched countless people in so many places and ways that even on a good day I can't begin to express the myriad feelings inside me. I learned what I could accomplish (a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g), learned what I could do
(e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g). I found self pride, confidence, friendship, and a personal sense of values that stands well today. We earn our nightmares but I would rather have them than not have been where I was needed along the way. Semper Fi Mark.

[Baby Ricochet]

That's a beautiful way of putting it Chris. I don't regret my service to the Corps. S**t happened I seriously wish hadn't but I've learned I had no control over it. (That realization took awhile) When I first started posting on the WC I had ideas about telling my story but it didn't take me to long to figure out writing funny was a hell of a lot more fun. You're right about the earning our nightmares. There's s**t inside me that's never gonna go away and it shouldn't. Some things should never be forgotten

[Chris]

You did good Mark... I buried one that didn't do as good as you, a sniper that got out as a Corporal. And maybe I was around enough that a few more hung around too - til their nightmares weren't as bad anymore... I hope I helped. Tried.

[Chris]

Missing friends...ya know?

[Baby Ricochet]

Yeah. I know

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

NICE TRIBUTE TO THE HOLIDAY FOR THEM.

[Chris]

1968-1979 GySgt. USMC... me. We are them in the final analysis, Parents, ourselves, children - family to someone somewhere. Is a fine line, the acceptance and return afterward... a lot of life to live within.

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

So true! Carry on in life.

[Chris]

as best and only each person can

[Laminators Dubai]

you've covered all the thoughts and views about the subject...well written, loved it!

[olla]

today was a day of thanks giving.. not long ago I made a comment.. on the very worst of my bad days.. I am blessed.. no one can really know the true cost of freedom unless they have paid that price.. being born in the USA and being a beloved and indulged child of upper middle class parents.. can sometimes make one take such things for granted.. I have spent a fair amount of time in my lifetime trying to understand that freedom was never free.. that someone else paid for me.. I have been reading these words of yours all day today.. it is good to have the freedom to pause and considder and to be thankful..

[Renée]

sometimes words become jammed... ♥ ( :

[Wendy Karasin]

True Chris, and well written, as is usual for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[sharonlee]

Thank you for these beautifully rendered thoughts... and for the intent within all your verse.

Some days
are meaningful days
for no other reason
then that…
… know what I mean ?
 
… meaningful because
the painful memories have
retreated
for the now…
dreams seem almost
touchable…
a tender word
was shared with you
… by you…
or thought of
in the heart of another
because of you
… and perhaps
just perhaps
passed on free of charge…
 
today has been a meaningful day…
thank you.

sharonlee

[icelandicblue]

I am moved by the change in the external descriptions to the external and finally at the end to the pragmatic or philosophical- if one is so inclined. Your poem is complex as are the many emotions that went into creating it. Thank you for what you have done and thank you for this.

[Chris]

And thank you for your pause and thought-full reading...

[Tate Morgan]

may they all find some peace today in the arms of loving family.

[Chris]

Thanks for coming by Tate, I appreciate your presence.

[Tate Morgan]

you are welcome

[Lucifer Jones]

I enjoyed this until I got to here; "There be places - inside and so far beyond MERE real... places where knees knelt and tears found their home... places where sunlight burnt the walls black ...places where there were no hopes left over as all the candles guttered and guttered in their ruby glass ...places that come round again and again in our days darkness and our night's grasp. Places where only God walked and the rest of us crawled amid the cries and crys and our footprints faded into nothing..."
Thats when I realized you had me teared up. No one makes the commitment with the hopes of loss. It's done of honor and love for something greater than the self. And unfortunately it is often sacrificed so that others may enjoy tomorrows to come. Thank you for the beautiful reflection. Semper Animosus, Semper Invictus, Semper Fi.

[Chris]

Thanks for being there and ...here, my friend.