Remembering : R. Preston and A. Pahl

As has happened on too many occasions for Boon and I to consider it coincidence, we have again, each written a poem with the same subject at almost the same time. We are convinced that despite the distance that separates us (Boon lives in Pennsylvania USA and I in Victoria, Australia), we have an affinity that exceeds the limitations of distance, and our friendship has grown to such a level that our thought processes are, at times, in synchronisation. We revel in this phenomenon - and our friendship.

Boon wrote ~ “My good friend, your ‘I Too Remember’ and my ‘I Remember You’ seem to go hand in hand.
Love ya Mate. A real privilege to be called your friend. Boon”

I REMEMBER YOU

I remember you;
For freedom reigns today
Yet sad, so very sad
That your lives had to end this way.

I remember you;
Therefore you shall forever live
I present a humble offering
My tears to you I give

I remember you;
and the Flag that we fought for
As I kneel upon this hallowed ground
a living casualty of war

I remember you;
You gave me hope when all was lost
your lives were rare and priceless
can we ever recover from the loss

I remember you;
Brothers and Sisters of the Wall
and I will continue to remember you
until this Brother falls

I remember you;
I guess it’s thank you I want to say
for the privilege to be in the land of the free
on this your Memorial Day

“Thank you seems so inadequate”

©Richard D. Preston
“Boondocker”
May 14, 2001

I, TOO, REMEMBER

I remember when we laughed in death’s face.
Young and brave in years and heart
full of life and knowing no disgrace.
For justice, we walked the jungle path
to the beat of freedom in a foreign place
where no thought of this war’s aftermath
intruded on the nowness of honour’s grace,
reliance, and trust; and restrained wrath
sharpened the flavour of brotherhood’s taste;
to instil the core of life into each heart
’til an ounce of sound left naught but waste.

And the mason’s mallet and chisel records…

Page created: Monday, 21 May 2001