How do you measure a life that's been lived?
How do you find what it's worth?
How do you weigh what a person has done,
In their short time here on earth?
Some men are wealthy and build an empire,
And some men want even more.
But the very best men are often sent off
To fight in a foreign war.
Virgil Lee Fisher was one of these men,
And in nineteen forty four,
There in the water at Omaha Beach,
Virgil struggled ashore.
He watched as the men all around him fell,
He hid in a blown out hole.
But what he had seen on this gray June day
Indelibly marked his soul.
As a POW he marched across France
To Germany, weak and thin.
Bread and water from a scummy well,
A box car to live in.
Starvation Hill, descriptively named,
The mem'ry will not be shared.
Five men survived their time in this hell,
For which they were ill-prepared.
Survival the only thought in his mind,
And Virgil did survive.
To Terre Haute at the end of the war,
Thankful to be alive.
But heros are often forgotten you see
By those the heros save.
They're shoved aside and people forget,
The ones who were so brave.
But Virgil could sit in his tiny house,
And hold in a shaking hand,
That tiny gift he'd earned long ago,
Defending his loved homeland.
Purple it is, in the shape of a heart,
Earned by blood and by tears.
It's value untold in the life of a man,
Measured by WORTH and not years.
Author notes
I read the story of Virgil a long time ago, and I met the author. This isn't much when you consider what Virgil was and what he did - and how he was forgotten. Hopefully it will help me remember.
Note: Was told later that this was read at Virgil's funeral service. An honor to be a part of that even in this small way.
Written November 23rd, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- Can You Cheer Someone Up for Me? by g r e y i s m.
300 points, ended November 29, 2004, 2 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Soldiers come back from war often only to be forgotten. It is a shame. Even a much greater shame are those who died and are forgotten. My father was a WWII vet and I don't believe his service was much appreciated, but he chose to serve.
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deep
This was a very awesome piece
Congrats on the gold in the piece well done.
Kari -
Awesome worth the read
This is so uncanny because my uncle was on that boat. He was wounded in France and I am sure that Mr. Motley will like this too. I saved it thank you. -
Wonderful tribute to Virgil Lee Fisher. May he and the many brave men like him never be forgotten!
Congratulations on your well-deserved win!
Maureen
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Wow, The more of your poems I read the more I am amazed. You are such a talented writer, I could learn much from your work
Congrats on the gold for this it sure did deserve it.
Suzanne -
good job
Absolutely wonderful. The gold must, I guess, mean you won the contest? I didn't see the other entries, but this one is first class, so I am sure you deserved to win. -
congratulations on the gold! this is a wonderful, rich and moving tribute to an amazing person. a most deserved win.
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This is just splendid my friend, simply touching, true, and splendid~! CONGRATULATIONS on your win!
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great job paul...you have a wonderful talent for retelling a story and makingit seem brand new...i hope none of us ever forget....God Bless
tyler -
That was fantastic. I always love reading your poetry Paul. I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to you lately.
There's plenty going on around here. I enjoyed all the thought and feeling you put into this piece. It hit me good. (There's my bad english) Anyways, fantastic as usual, I really liked this. Let's hope all of them can be remembered.
-Liz -
hey Paul
this is an amazing poem, and very touching as well.
both Caleb and I love it and we appreciate it alot.
thanks....
~ Lea -
Paul, this is such a beautiful tribute. I doubt that anyone could have done better. Hugs, Patricia
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