Ask Any Soldier
“When your friend
Gets killed, part of you
Gets killed”
A testimony and
Remembrance for
USA Memorial Day
Which I can only
Guess is right since
I have friends gone
In other ways, and
They and those parts
Of me yet feel lost
To lose through war
When targets seem
A random strategy:
Colors, shapes, tribes
On a map or guessed
At over a hill
Loss of life or partial
Life must feel
The height of
Unselected cruelty
On a pillar of
Senselessness
If a citizen salute
Might count, then
Listen to one
Expressing in
Tribute to
Patriot sacrifice
And personal
Complexity in
Service
Thanks is not enough,
So memory is offered
And legacy of
Better nations
C L Couch
(quotation from the AHC channel)
clcouch123 
May 31, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Beautiful tribute. I think losing someone in war, in my ways, is difficult. Maybe worse because you know the risk they could die or be seriously injured, is far greater than the average person. I guess what gets me is I think many soldiers are so young, nineteen or twenty and are giving up their youth and time many young people are out building their education to have good jobs and partying with their friends. In many ways, it’s the most free times of their lives. But for a soldier this is very different, they grow up fast. And come effected by war dead or not.
June 1, 2016 at 5:07 pm
You’re right, soldiers are too young. Technically, our young soldiers cannot drink; yet frankly I wonder who might need a drink more. My dad, when young, served on a ship that was shelled and mined. I don’t think he ever came back all (or even mostly) well from that. The effects of war, as you say.
May 31, 2016 at 9:42 pm
Hi Christopher. Hope you are having a good day. I have nominated you for a blogger award. If you choose to participate is up to you and your schedule. If you can’t no worries 🙂
https://mandibelle16.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/award-epically-awesome-award/
June 1, 2016 at 5:10 pm
Hey, Mandy, Today’s going quietly, which is just fine. I hope your day is going well. Thanks for the nomination! I’m preparing my response. I appreciate the freedom you encourage; I’ll say something like that to those I nominate in turn. I do think awarding energizes the blogging community. So Thanks again!
June 1, 2016 at 7:57 am
Such another moving piece. I have written a lot about soldiers and their families and how war affect a lot of lives. This is such a great tribute for a kind of pain nothing can ever cure.
June 1, 2016 at 5:14 pm
Goodness, thank you, Rosema, for moving and for tribute. Those words in response are deeply felt. I agree, I think war creates a kind of pain that never goes away or gets entirely better. Those who serve are brave, and I am anxious for them. And we pray, certainly.
June 2, 2016 at 1:22 am
that is so true, Christopher. Prayer is all that we can offer for those brave bodies, and brave souls.