"Valiant"

My dearest, it pains me you are reading this,
but it just happens so, as I stare across this musty room,
watching out the broken window,
I am thinking of you.
For this is not one of those relieving letters to home,
but one dignified with the seal of my blood.
I’m frightened at what you may feel,
I miss two brown braids adorned in white ribbons bouncing in the breeze,
the hum of bees,
a yellow sundress effortlessly twirling with ease.
I’m afraid I must suffer you this, I long for your embrace,
but instead I am travelling to my exalted throne of grace
Believe me this, so very thin is the veil,
listen intently to my one and final spiel:
I will miss the rolling hills, and pure winters,
I will miss the piercing cry of freedom’s toll, “Let it ring!”
And at times when you want to cry out to God, why me, and why you,
when you step over crimson petals to weep over your loss and my gain,
remember this for me,
as you peer down at the stone engravings that are a cold reminder of me,
understand I know that I bargained your shaking hands
for the trust and attempt to redeem our nation.
Frightened by the reality of your worst fears,
I know I traded your solitude for my call to duty,
my responsibility to defend, honor be thy name, and hallowed be my grave.
Live my legacy with integrity, lace them up with wisdom and time,
walk with dignity and kneel in humble pride.

Remember me this, oh entitled generation,
I call upon you in the meridian of time,
in remembrance of my call to serve,
in conviction of spirit, be that what is left to linger of me.
Remember that I sought your safety,
my life laid for your folly,
your banner of blood and stars and stripes meant the world to me.
Remember in your solemn assemblies, the widowed and fatherless,
the brotherless and childless, need I make my message clearer?
Do not entice them to be deceived with foolish bluffs like smoke and mirrors.
Rejoice in sacred respects my men, they be yours too,
we go to our graves, valiant men and women, of truth.
And as raindrops accumulate in your eyes
faster than do the dark clouds of scarlet smoke in the skies,
as you weep in your hands and clutch yourself close,
begging my return from the ground, remember this,
the imminence of the return to my domain.
I will rise with my fallen soldiers slain,
and we will fight the final war and we will not falter again.
And in our midst is this war of words that hinders all progress,
my battle scars remain open as you hold contempt and remorse and revenge.
In your hands of aid, give compassion to those who live lovelessly,
teach them kindness and to value courage and valor over regret and disdain.
Because blame keeps wounds open, and only forgiveness heals,
If you do not learn that the bloodshed of lives is not the way, my mission will had been in vain
save God’s command, remember me, as I marvel at His face.
For “my cup runneth over”,
and tis time to lay this body down.
His country, His world, I lived for my Nation, endured in pain,
remember me, my family, do not allow that I died in vain.