The Young and Brave

Thoughts on those who serve.

Who worries for the young and brave

With silent vigils kept; night after night?

We who dream and pray they are saved

With faith tomorrow is proven right.

Who upholds the young and brave

To distant lands and unfamiliar seas?

Everyone who's life unfolds

In lands of hard-won liberty.

Who honors now the young and brave

That fall so far from home?

All who in some moment gave

A memory of their own.

Reviews

[Frank James Davis]

For reasons that have nothing whatever to do with national defense, or the preservation of freedom, we "responsible" adult citizens shamefully allow the ongoing sacrifice of brave young men and women to the covetous whims of our wicked, deceitful rulers.
Should we not have much better shielded these virtual innocents?
As the countless maimed and many dead are returned home, does it not seem only just that, someday, we be forced to answer for our moral cowardice?
Sorry about the rant, U. Your excellent poem provoked these thoughts.

[UfoAuthor]

I apologize for this late reply, Frank. I see there is a kindred spirit within. An understanding that, at some level, all who "use" innocents to further a lust for power and/or wealth - at any price - may indeed be held accountable in some small yet everlasting way. As for me, I strive to not be counted among the unforgiven.

[Emily Burns]

my daughter is excited that women have been accepted into combat duty, she wants to be a combat engineer when she grows up

i pray time stands a little still, or moves much slower than it has

[UfoAuthor]

While I wish her well in all that she aspires, I too will pray with you on that point. We are fortunate that trees exist. They provide an immense treasury of wisdom. Falling too close beneath the bow, the young are stunted and may not always reach their full potential while too far way they are then subject to more harsh environs. Trees have no choice where their young take root. Perhaps we don't either but I should like to think that we learn something from that observation and can, in some small measure, benefit from it.

[Emily Burns]

thank you

[kublakhan27]

So much younger than me, and so much braver than I'll ever be...

[UfoAuthor]

I join you, friend, on this journey as we try to grasp the eternal and unknowable... accepting that we shall fail and yet rejoicing in the effort.

[kublakhan27]

Indeed...and it's almost as though every successive generation grows increasingly resigned to this reality, and increasingly cynical to boot. Admittedly, I'm not immune to those feelings...though there's always hope, we just have to dig for it.

[marlayesterday]

This is so very well written. But everything you do is just about perfect no? I love you knack for putting words together and the powerful feelings your pen brings. Again, just beautiful.

[UfoAuthor]

There is a special place, a real place that you can go... probably not far from where you live. Dip your hands deep within the essence of that place and for a brief moment remember your life. Then, perhaps if it seems right, dedicate some small portion of it, of you, to what makes it possible.

[Daddy's Little Girl]

I lost my cousin in law to war just two years ago.. sigh again your words flow beautifully together.

[UfoAuthor]

Sometimes the heart asks the mind to do it a favor. Thank you. I'm sorry for your loss.

[Daddy's Little Girl]

Its cool. He visits me in my sleep.

[Kenneth S.]

Wonderful.

[UfoAuthor]

Thanks.

[Rox Bain ☮]

This is so beautiful...
"All who in some moment gave
A memory of their own."
These lines are just...wow...
You capture the pain and the emotion perfectly, you are a very talented writer :)

[UfoAuthor]

Thank you for the review, Rox! BTW, I think you weather a critique quite well and have enormous grace under fire. As you may read elsewhere, I like to think that this is a place for us to learn and grow.

[Rox Bain ☮]

You're welcome, you have a very unique talent :D

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I have often wondered how terrible it would be to lose one of my own children to war. Any mother or father's heart would hold their child up in prayer, praying for their safe return. So many father's, mother's, children...lost. Their memory is what we have now to honor. This is where I am stuck...there is more to your poem, but I am lost in a mother's heart.

[UfoAuthor]

I think we can only try to express how it is for each of us. It seems reasonable, if not painfully apparent, that we all bring our own special baggage as we travel this train-of-thought. To lose someone in the natural progression of things is bad enough but to lose them in ways that seem so wrong and senseless... it tests the limits and foundations of life and spirit. All I know for sure is that they who serve... they remember and they cry too.

[rabbit]

thoughtful and lovely.

[UfoAuthor]

I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner, lamb. Thank you very much for your comment. (Sorry, if I doubled up on replies.)