Reflections on the Mall

             Washington, DC

In the shadow of Lincoln,
a squad of soldiers slogs
uphill, nineteen men wary,
vigilant, forever on patrol
through rough terrain,
inclement weather,
a rice paddy frozen
                     in time.

Watched over by nameless
faces, images
etched on the dark wall
             of our memory.

Down the walk, thousands
of miles and years away,
three nurses are caught
                in eternity.

One cradles the wounded
soldier, another is on her knees,
a sense of despair,
a third looks to heaven,
a plea for salvation
from God
           or a helicopter?

This is “The American Pieta.”

Closer to home,
three brothers in arms
are facing the wall,
weapons at rest,
they support each other,
watch over fallen
comrades and friends,
faceless names forever
engraved on the dark wall
        of our memory.

And while we sit at home
living the American Dream
watching TV, eating fast food,
going to school, dating girls,
driving cars and drinking
in bars,they have been, will be
and are called away
at different times
and different places
to distant lands,
some never
                 to return.
.