Eternity

A Digger, is a military slang term for primarily infantry soldiers from Austraia and New Zealand.

I read in the paper the other day,
a story, a memory gone astray,
a mystery man and his own mission,
with a question of our volition.
Nobody saw him in the dark of night,
or the word he'd continually write, but
across the city in yellow chalk, in
doorways, on pavements where
people walked.

For decades a legacy clouded,
his life in secrecy shrouded, but
a simple question for all generations,
'Eternity' sparking many conversations.
Scrawled half a million times,
over thirty five years of his life,
a question, do we believe in His Afterlife?

In time we learned his name,
his deeds in folklore still remain,
saved from earlier times,
an urgency now defined.
Who was this man nobody knew,
and what his changed lifetime view?
He was a veteran of the war,
his life now in heaven's store.

He died aged eighty two
his legacy was a heavenly view
that people might stop and consider
the question posed by this digger.

Reviews

[Lisasview]

Good morning,
Well, digger, a word with a new meaning for my vocabulary.
Really interesting poem with quite a story.
I have now reread your poem three times. I always enjoy reading about things I have no knowledge about.
Quite enjoyable read with easy rhymes, early this morning in Spain.
Thank you for sharing,
Lisa, now in Spain

[Richard M]

Thank you Lisa for reading and reviewing. I'm glad I could tell you a new story and bring you a new word.
I hope you are well and happy?
Take care of you my friend :)

[Lisasview]

Learning new interesting things is always so wonderful..
Lisa, about to go and finish making fish stew.. I do so love to cook..

[Red Brick Keshner]

I remember that one New Year when "Eternity" in his scribbling blazed across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

[Richard M]

I too remember that time, 'Eternity' emblazened on the bridge, but have known the folklore story for many years. I've never seen one instance of such though.
Thank you for reading.