In Remembrance

With fingers firmly grasped 

Upon the sleek wooden grain

Their grip tightens. 

Swing after swing, 

They Carve into the arid earth 

Quietly washing the dirt wake aside. 

Sodden with sweat 

The desert glistens. 

But, Cracks protrude,

Funneling the drops

Of lustrous heroism 

Through canyons of age. 

Worn well, but weary

The hours of grit and grime 

Remain nameless. 

With only one record kept 

On a single organ 

playing a Constant tune 

————————————- 

In the last of the fleeting light

The crew was left to work 

In the uneasy silence 

Of the closing coverage

Brought by the night’s blind.

Off to the left,

All eyes shifted 

To the sight of the orange wave 

Crashing upon the sea of green 

and breaking against the black 

Surface of peace 

Nightfall typically blankets the heat

Tucked in by the saving hands

Of Mother Nature 

But not now,

The false sense of safety had left them

Exposed to the harshness 

Of what was to come. 

Voices raised 

Over the roar of the fire’s mouth

That Lapped up the remaining land,

And licked its’ lips with 

The dry kiss of destruction 

The eyes of each passerby 

Grew wide. 

Fear and awe

Oozing simultaneously 

As whispers lept from 

Their gaping mouths 

—————————————— 

We all know of the days we lost 

Our brothers, sisters,

The ones we follow down the same path,

Step for step,

Have walked with,

Have stood beside. 

The ones we weren’t around to help

But now, have been helped by.

We’ve heard the stories,

Seen the fears,

Felt the anguish 

Of the loss of family 

Or friends. 

We learn from each member

Who payed the ultimate sacrifice 

As we bow our heads,

Pay our respects,

And honor those we’ve left behind.