"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

[Sheila Kline]

Chris, I don't think it could have been said with more eloquence than you have in these words of understanding, honor, tribute, and thanksgiving for all our military branches have done, and continue to do. They are there, many not by choice but by dedication to those and that which they hold dear! Yes, they are serving as we take our next breath, in the Philippines today, and Heaven only know where next! But, they are there.........and that is what matters the most to me!

Your comparison to the leaves of Autumn, and the remnants of the candles in their ruby glass holders now burned and shattered as they have burned for prayers for lost souls - they too are snuffed out.
A beautiful and touching write my friend..........settles deep in the soul of this gal who is so very, very proud of them and thankful for them!!

[Chris]

"So say we all!" thank you Sheila...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, "of thought-full praise"

and i like how you used the season, the felled leaves...almost like those fallen soldiers whose seasons are over now...but in spring there will be tomorrow, and it will come because yesterday was, and those leaves that came before fought to help summer remain as long as possible.

deeply moving piece.

even if we are against certain wars happening, we just can't be against the soldiers who bravely fought as their duty to their country.

jacob

[Rita L. Sev]

Those brave yesterdays... give us so many todays... This is a wonderful tribute, Chris.

[J. J. Nightingale]

Just got up..late
ran to put our flag out
"He" never missed a day
to say
I remember every one.

................. Thank you Chris , for yesterdays and today..and tomorrows

[Ruth]

Oh hon...this is so deeply moving, deeply...