Strangers No More… : R. Richmond, F. Sizemore, Rae, C. Sharik

(My friends’ responses to “Stranger”)

Bushranger's Revetment - Poetry and Stories by Vietnam Veteran, Anthony W. (Bushranger) Pahl and friends

While battlefields become quiet gardens… a soldier’s pain persists
Do ancient tears cause hearts to harden… does peace, in fact, exist?
God, please comfort my friends today… give them your healing touch
And if you could, save one for me… if that’s not asking You too much

©Randy E. Richmond
April 12, 2002

… And when you die, your head will be in the lap of another…
for both of you will live in the hearts of all who read this fine poem.
Being already sad, I am further saddened;
indeed life is, by sadness, given purpose but unfortunately little joy …

Peace my brother,

©Colin F. Jones
12 April 2002

Dear Tony,

Tears are my only words…

©Faye Sizemore
April 12, 2002

PASSAGE THROUGH MY HEART

Safe in my arms,
on the back of forever,
such precious weight
the life of a man

how heavy a load
can my weary heart carry?
And still
continue to beat.

how many Bill’s
in the cold, and the mud
can pass to forever
through this brave heart of mine.

It does not flinch
from the task that is set
but it swells
with each life
that passes its portals

and carries them on
in endless remembrance
of their patient death
to a too soon song.

I was moved to write this by Anthony’s beautiful poem below. (I hope you don’t mind Anthony)

Well, that one hurt my heart strings and played havoc with my tears
to think you’ve had that memory and the pain of all those years;
his head still in your lap now, he still wears your shirt
But he’s at peace, and you are left, with everlasting hurt.

And some Stranger’s mother somewhere
knows someone held her son
how I wish that I could tell her
that you were the one.

Page created: Thursday, 09 May 2002