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Fallen Boots

By James KillmerPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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James Killmer Boots of a Soldier

Came upon an Indian layin'

Dakota fields of terror

Slowly I came to thee

Wounded Knee Massacre

Smoldering flintlock by his side

Pale face graced with a half smile

Eyes of blue stare into space

His feathered headband lay from his head

Dusty clothes from ridin' far from home

What to make of this Indian

Does not move he lays dead

On that Dakota field amen

Came upon a young military man

Layin' in Gettysburg grassy field

Slowly I came to thee

Smoldering musket by his side

Wrinkled love letter in his hand

His eyes glared unto mine

Asking for help I could not give

His blue uniform stained with blood

What to make this young military man

Does not move he lays dead

In the grassy fields of Gettysburg

Came upon a medical officer

Layin' in a muddy trench Somme, France

Slowly I came to thee

Blood soaked tourniquet by his side

Medical pack in disarray

Helpless body that gave so much

What to make of this giving soul

Does not move he lays dead

"The war to end all wars"

Came upon a Marine gunner

Layin' on a burning beach Iwo Jima

Slowly I came to thee

Bullet riddled sage green kaki uniform

First strike ration pack by his side

A marred love letter from his wife

What to make of this gallant marine

Does not move as he lays dead

Together buddies on beach of Iwo Jima

Came upon an officer brat

Layin' upon a rocky ledge in Korea

Slowly I came to thee

Smoldering carbine by his side

A book of Dickerson poems in his hand

Eyes were closed not to see my face

His brown Khaki stained with his blood

No more able to command

What to make of this Officer

Does not move he lays dead

On a rocky ledge in Korea

Came upon a African-American man

Layin' in the fields of Vietnam

Slowly I came to thee

Smoldering M16 by his side

A pack of Lucky Strikes in his hand

Glassy teary eyes look away

A hero deservedly a Purple Heart

What to make of this African-American man

Does not move he lays dead

In a rice paddy filed in Vietnam

Came upon a Army Corp nurse

Layin' in the hot desert sand of Iraq

Slowly I came to thee

Smoldering M9 pistol by her side

Medical manual in her hand

Her beautiful brown eyes yearn for life

Hair so fine lay around her head

What to make of this Army Corp nurse

Does not move she lays dead

In a hot desert field in Iraq

Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine

Coast Guard, Merchant Marines

Men and women persons of love

From wars of past and to come

I pray you will not forget

Families lost their loved ones

Loved souls loss for our freedom

How many more times will I come to thee?

Layin' in wartime fields crying out

To see these heroic humans

Rising beyond wispy white clouds

To heaven in peace

Damn

vintage
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