The Sand Kissed
I could write a poem of alien sand
where water is the sweetest touch,
where MacDonald's golden arches
and John Wayne cast no shadow
and the beach of the Western frontier
burns forever without the respite of ocean.
I could write a poem of reporters,
camera bulbs exploding, firing questions,
planting microphones to spout official party lines.
Men in flowing robes beneath headwear
announcing their usurpery of God
weilding official party lines like scriptures,
papal blessing kissed
like a bruise from snake lips,
as righteous as jihad.
But the poem I'm writing is of a mother,
waking from the sound of carrion wings
flapping dark knives across the sun,
to realise it's the fan ticking sweat
from the mattress where she lays listening
for her son's tread on the stair,
remembering her fingers
on the silk bristle of his army-cut hair.
In memory of:
Sgt. Jose M. Velez
Hometown: Bronx, New York, U.S.
Age: 35 years old
Died: June 9, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army Reserves, 773rd Transportation Company, Army Reserve, Fort Totten, N.Y.
Incident: Died of injuries sustained when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Kirkuk.
where water is the sweetest touch,
where MacDonald's golden arches
and John Wayne cast no shadow
and the beach of the Western frontier
burns forever without the respite of ocean.
I could write a poem of reporters,
camera bulbs exploding, firing questions,
planting microphones to spout official party lines.
Men in flowing robes beneath headwear
announcing their usurpery of God
weilding official party lines like scriptures,
papal blessing kissed
like a bruise from snake lips,
as righteous as jihad.
But the poem I'm writing is of a mother,
waking from the sound of carrion wings
flapping dark knives across the sun,
to realise it's the fan ticking sweat
from the mattress where she lays listening
for her son's tread on the stair,
remembering her fingers
on the silk bristle of his army-cut hair.
In memory of:
Sgt. Jose M. Velez
Hometown: Bronx, New York, U.S.
Age: 35 years old
Died: June 9, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army Reserves, 773rd Transportation Company, Army Reserve, Fort Totten, N.Y.
Incident: Died of injuries sustained when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Kirkuk.
8 Comments:
Beautiful memorial Moon.
The senselessness of it never ceases to amaze me, what a waste.
You did it justice
Chris
Thanks Chris. It's so tragic isn't it? I look at this man's beautiful face and think of all the effort and energy that went into growing him into the man he was and then to be just thrown away and wasted in such a tragic way. He, and all the others like him, deserve every honour bestowed on them for giving themselves to a service that should never be asked of anyone.
This was written for a project Michelle is creating over here:
http://operationpoem.blogspot.com/
You might like to send her something too?
I'll go have a looksee kid, thanks for the link
indeed you did do it justice. Sad to hear of someone losing their life. If only we could give a proper memorial for everyone who deserves such.. make it so the world could see. I think i might take a look at that site.
Thanks Kora. I hope you decide to contribute to the project. I think it's well worthwhile.
I will try to come up with something for my beloved soldiers...
I saw this also on d's group blog and it's marvelous. A wonderful tribute! Michelle's project is a well needed one!!
Hi Pris, thanks. Yeah, I'm glad she took the initiative with this.
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