in the shadows...
sits a Kevlar
a vest
and a M16
as a soldier
gets ready
for another day
of working
protecting
those he loves
those he would
and could die for
in a heart beat
for the woman
he left behind
for the son
who wont
remember him
when he returns
for the friends
he did not
get to say
"goodbye ..."
a knock on the door
time for the mission
he has a
bad feeling about
as he puts
on his gear
he whispers
a silent prayer
into the shadows
for his family
for his friends
he grabs his weapon
and walks out the door
to meet his fate
like a true soldier
does every day
does every night
lives and breaths
honor and courage
in the shadows...
sits a row of graves
markers of those
who have fallen
a cross made out of
their boots
their Kevlar
their M16 riffle
and their dog tags
brothers and sisters
who fell as one
defending one another
not fighting for freedom
but those who
stand beside you
those who will never
be able to forget you
those who will always
remember just what
you gave up
for them
a wife
a husband
a daughter
a son
a life they will
never again see
in the shadows...
a soldier lays
all alone
in a hospital bed
not able to remember
what happened
how he got there
does he have
any friends
any family
cant remember
anything
not even
his own name
back in
the states
his wife
gets a
phone call
from his
commanding officer
leting her know
her husband
doesnt know
who he is
or even
how he got
where he
is now
or even
what happened
to him
in the shadows...
a man sits
having to
learn everthing
over by scratch
in a hospital
in germany
the doctors
decided it
was better
for everyone
including family
and friends
if before
he went home
he remembered
a few things
so in a hospital
he sits learning
how to read
as he
gets frustrated
he closes
his eyes
and sees
a place
in his mind
he cant
quite place
with a pole
in his hands
and a line
on the end
in a pond
siting besides
a girl
he doesnt know
the name of
he openes
his eyes
and the memory
is gone
he cant
even remember
what it was
he just saw
he knows
in his heart
and soul
it was an
important event
in his life
but he cant
remember why
or how or
who she was
but he knows
there is a girl
out there
somewhere
wondering about
him but
he cant
remember her
In the shadows...
A lost soul
a fighter of freedom
fights a battle
he never was
trained for
One that
will not only
save his life
but bring back
to him the things
that means so much
Struggling with
self awareness
he thinks
long and hard
Thinks about
what he can remember
but nothing is there
no memories
no thoughts
and no emotions
The day comes
when he is
sent home
and that is
when he
knows something
is really wrong
cause where is home
Where is he going
Who will he see
All questions
he needs to
answer him self
Standing on
the platform
of the station
he looks around
lost
A voice cries
out to him
"daddy...”
he looks
a small child
stands with
arms wide open
He looks
and sees nothing
feels nothing
His own family
strangers to
this warrior
for many
In the shadows...
Comes a cry
from a woman
who loved him
"sweetheart
you don’t
remember me
but I am
the love
that let
you go
I am the woman
who gave you all
I am the heart
that will always
stand by you
like you stood
by so many
who fell
and gave us
the protection
of life"
Holding up
her arms to
give him a hug
the small necklace
she wore around
her neck glistened
in the light
blinding him
for just
a second
But that second
was all
that was needed
For on the chain
hung a small
hollow heart
with a bell inside
It was her present
from him when he
first got up
the courage
to ask her out
he gave it to her
the first time
they went
fishing together
at the local pond
The small bell
rang out
just the
tiniest of rings
but that was
all that
was needed
He heard
the bell ring
and something
snapped inside
a doorway opened
in his mind
for just a moment
He knew that
small ringing sound
he’d heard it before
and he knew where
he’d heard it too
He smiled
dropped his bag
to the floor
and held out
his arms
wearing a smile
"laura...
is that you?”
in the shadows...
a few months later
not much had changed
he keeps seeing
in his flashes
of memorys
a lovely woman
who looks at him
with all the love
in the world
for him in her eyes
but who is she
she isnt laura
the more places
around town he goes
with his wife and son
he sees more
and more flashes
of that smile
sometimes she is
looking down on him
as if hes a little boy
and sometimes shes
looking at him
as if he was
a tree to her
sometimes he will
see a flash of
a little baby
in his arms
but is that his son
or is it
a friends baby
and he just
doesnt know anymore
and the more
and more he sees
the more
and more he wants
to remember
just lately hes seen
the look in lauras
eyes of despair
he knows as he
looks around the room
that hes silently
loosing his
childhood sweetheart
and its killing
him inside
knowing that because
he cant remember
the love she
holds for him
is waiting but
her mind is
telling her
its hopeless
as he is
roaming restlessly
around the room
in his despair
he knocks into
a desk and
a picture album
falls to the ground
in the shadows...
of a master bedroom
a young woman sits
with her head
in her hands
silently crying
for the man
she cant seem
to pry out
of the man
in the den
she has taken
him every where
to the place
they first met
to their secret
hiding places
to the place
they had their
first date
to the place
he proposed
to the place
they had their wedding
and still he
remembers nothing
more than her name
what type of life
would her son have
if they stayed
when his daddy
doesnt even know
his name
she cant raise their son
like this
so she stands up
as her hands
silently shake
she starts
to pack her bags
from the shadows...
a young man
is looking at
an old picture album
it is opened
to the page
of that lovely woman
whos not laura
looking up at him
he silently flips
through to the begining
and sits down
at the desk
to read the script
written beside
each picture
describing what happened
that day and
who was there
to witness it
suddenly
the flashes of memorys
hes seen they all make sense
his son was born
3 yrs ago in june
his name is paul
and he was born
only a few months
before his own mother
died during the
world trade center
building falling
on top of her
he remember proposing
to his wife
he remembers
getting married
with everyone
in the little
town present
that picture album
put words to the
flashes he saw
as he had
gone around town
with his wife
and son
suddenly
he jumps up
from his seat
and yells
"laura!!!!
paul!!!!
i remember everything"
his son instantly
stops playing
in the room
next door to him
and screams
"daddy!!!!"
and runs to
jump into his arms
and togther they
run up the stairs
to the master bedroom
where laura was
where she hadnt
heard him and
as he openes the door
to the room
he stops dead in his tracks
his smile fades
as he sees the bags
and he puts his son
down as he says
"my little
golden sunflower
please dont leave me"
her hands stop
in midair
as she turns
towards him
her shock
writting in every
line on her face
"you...
you...
you...
you...
gave me
that nickname
right before you...
you...
you...
left"
"i found
a picture album
and it put
into words
the images
that had been
plagueing my mind
since i came home
and suddenly it all
made sense
laura please...
please...
dont take paul from me..."
his words trailed off
as she threw her arms
around him and
kissed him...
"oh john
how can we
leave you now
that you remember"
Gold trophy winner
Adding your comment:
my sgt always told me my heart was too big for the service...
thanks.. i am making a series out of these...
