Chester
FLAG-DRAPED
The American flag
drapes the coffin.
Another serviceman lost.
Another mother childless.
Another wife a widow.
The number of stars
on the flag can’t even come close
to the number of souls
who will never be born,
because this one American is gone.
I try not to think about it.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.
5 comments:
But your poem causes the thought anyway. I think of all those days missed when I read of another service man or woman lost. My father died in WWII, and I missed siblings too.
I'm so sorry to hear your story. I hope my poem hasn't made you too sad. I actually wrote it with another photo in mind, but decided that perhaps that photo was too heart-wrenching to include on the blog.
Diane, this is beautiful. Sad, yes. But sad poems are some of my favorites. This feels like a moment to pause, think, be sad for who was lost and grateful for who came home safely.
Sad, but so important. I agree, Diane, this is beautiful.
a sad remembrance of what could have been . . .
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