Veterans lament 11/11
Reveille sounded, warmth felt, we the opaque,
Our friend, the acknowledged half-smile citation.
Today our voices heard, presence felt and never vague,
We will meet again as 11 tolls, with tears, respect and pride.
Preserve our selfless acts, forever fresh and real,
Time creates distance, memories clouded, diluted.
Don’t muffle our tattered drums or slow the rusting wheels,
Effervesce our spirits, our lives and our souls.
Flash-mob moment, so proud,
Our recognition, pride furrowed sadness.
From ashes, our shadows are embraced,
We muster with our foe, translucency, as the Last Post echoes off concrete
The radiance cools, the end so near,
Petals now crushed underfoot.
On coat lapels they disappear,
Reluctantly into the night, with unrivalled discipline we will retreat.
©PEDRO-BATPOET 2018
Pedro Batpoet 