AS I WALKED THE PATH IN SILENCE

I READ SOME WORDS UP ON THE WALL

IN MEMORY OF OUR HEROES

“DEDICATED TO THEM ALL”

Then I stopped and looked behind me

There were names I 've never knew

and I wondered if these men all died

or just a chosen few

DIDN’T KNOW THE REASON

OR WHY THESE NAMES WERE HERE

AND WHO WERE THOSE AROUND ME

WHOSE EYES WERE FILLED WITH TEARS

Then I heard a whisper

That God sent this command

to send these e young men off to war

to fight for only land

SO WHY THEN ARE PEOPLE PRAYING

IF GOD WAS THE ONE TO BLAME

IT MUST’VE BEEN MEN’S OWN GUILT

TO GET THE GLORY AND THE FAME

Just then I saw a vision

A boy was about 18

was looking in the river

his face was quiet and serene

THEN I SAW ANOTHER BOY

THEY ALMOST LOOKED THE SAME

ONE SMILED AT THE OTHER AND WHISPERED,

“WHAT’S YOU NAME?"

SOMEONE SAID THAT WE MUST KILL

BUT I’M NOT SURE WHY

THEY BOTH PULLED OUT Their GUNS

Then laid them down to cry

DO YOU MISS YOUR MOM AND DAD

THE SAME WAY THAT I DO?

DID THEY BLOW A KISS GOODBYE

AND SEND THEIR PRAYERS WITH YOU?

DID YOU GET TO DRINK WITH FRIENDS

OR PARTY AT A BAR?

DID YOU GET THE CHANCE TO VOTE, TO DATE,

OR DRIVE A CAR?

DID YOU GET THE CHANCE TO MARRY

OR MEET THAT SPECIAL ONE?

THEN THE ONE BOY WIPED HIS EYES AND SAID

“I’VE NEVER SEEN MY SON.

Then within my vision

a blast charged threw my head

And in the river I could see

both boys had fallen dead

NEITHER BOY HAD A CLUE

OF WHAT THIS PAIN WAS FOR

AND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THEIR DESTINY

IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN WAR

AT THAT TIME MY VISION ENDED

AND REALITY CAME TO BE

THAT ONES WHO CAME TO SEE THE WALL

WERE THE ONES WHO ARE NOT FREE

THE NAMES UPON THAT BIG STONE WALL

CANNOT SEE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE

IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE GRIEVING

FOR THEIR PARTNERS OR THEIR SONS

THE WALL MUST BE A SPECIAL PLACE

FOR SOLDIERS TO FORGET THE PAST

OR MAYBE IT’S TO SEE WHO DIED

AND MAKE THEIR SUFFERING LAST

I WONDER IF THESE SOLDIERS

HEAR THESE NAMES CRY IN THE NIGHT

“PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME HERE TO DIE

I WANT TO WIN THIS FIGHT"

SEE THE NAMES ON THE WALL ARE PEACEFUL

AND NAMES CAN’T SUFFER NO MORE

BUT THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES & SOLDIERS

WILL ALWAYS LIVE THE WAR

A WAR THAT SHOWED NO MERCY

TO RELIGION, GREED OR RACE

AND WHEN DEATH CAME UPON THEM

WAR SAW NO COLOR OF FACE

SO IF YOU EVER VISIT

READ THE DEDICATION TO THEM ALL

FOR ITS NOT JUST NAMES THAT YOU WILL SEE

BUT FACES ON THE WALL

"THOUGH I WAS NOT THERE"

by

Donna Phillips