Poet's Corner

Just Rewards

by David G. Upham, Sr.

I've trod upon the bastions where the cold eye, silent now
observes the bay at eventide, resolved to keep its vow
to speak again the tears of death in sharp, bombastic roar
a sullen, silent Cyclops, anticipating war.

I've nested by the tarmac where the silver eagles soar
to lay their eggs of searing heat upon the other shore
their feathers glowing brightly, their plumes of red and white,
the mushrooms glowing upward, awesome in their might.

I've watched the brave tin soldiers in blue and gold and grey
dressed smartly right as they marched, by proudly on their way
to speak of deeds of valour, of bugle, sword and gun
and watched the ribboned bronze aglow mutely in the sun.

I've walked upon the decks of steel and tasted salt of wave
and saluted rows of coffins, the home of free and brave.
I've been atop the box of steel as it rolled across the land
and watched the full destruction, its footprints in the sand.

I wept the tears of motherhood, the anguish of the heart
from unborn childhood memories denied the chance to start.
I've kept a list on leaves of gold your deeds upon your race.
On the last day, how will you fare when we meet Face to face?

David G. Upham is a Senior Documentation Specialist, with over 20 years of experience in both technical documentation and writing fiction . He lives in Rochester, New York.