Dave The Poet
  • Home
  • About the Author
  • Poetry
    • Monday Poetry Group >
      • First 10 Weeks
      • Second 10 Weeks
      • Third 10 Weeks
      • Fourth 10 Weeks
    • Alphabet Poems
    • Poems on Aging
    • Faith Poems
    • Relationship Poems
    • Seasonal Poems
    • Other Poems
  • Stories
  • Musings

The Old Guard

12/21/2014

0 Comments

 

The old guard has laid down their arms,
Their fighting days are done
They’ve manned the towers, sounded the alarm
Now they ride to the setting sun

The war is not over, battles need to be fought
Of this you can be sure
But hand they must, their swords to us…
And the ground they did secure

The veterans in this fight, who stayed through the night
When the rockets glowed red in the sky
Turn back they would not, they struggled and fought…
To surrender…they would much rather die

The old guard with their boots, and their helmets of steel
Their uniforms tattered and spent
“Fight on boys-you must still fight on!”
Their voices in harmony lent

As the last of their strength was exhausted and gone
The endeavor so noble its cause
Never a doubt was thought in their mind
To waver to give up or pause

I take the sword from the man as he goes
Its weight feels heavy to me
If he fought…then so too can I
So others as well can live free

Now youngster…you bring up the rear!
And don’t let us get surprised from the side
I’ll follow the footsteps…of the great men before
And we’ll honor the way that they died

This war that we’re in-so noble its cause
Our General so valiant and true
Bids us fight on, till one day we see
That our own setting sun is in view

Rest then we will, with the great soldiers past
And true peace will last and will last!
Thanks we will say, to the faithful old guard…
Who’s feet in the battle stood fast

David Kettler, 12/14/14

I wrote this right after writing "Mountain of a Man" for T.C. Morris. I mentioned in a phone conversation to mom that "we are losing the old guard, one by one!" She said, "hey, that sounds like a poem!"
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2013
    June 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    September 2010
    June 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.