Warriors Lament

[Q]

Guys, I'm throwing this out there to see if any of you over the years had written anything you might want to share with the rest of us. I'm not writing a book or songs.....just interested.

GOD SPEAKS OF THE WARRIOR

I have been with him on the mountain. So cold the tips of his fingers stung. He did not move for days. Hungry, tired and alone. He would not speak to me.

I have been with him in the desert heat. Trying to rest. Pulling a dirty scarf over his face for shade. Lips dry. Hungry, tired and alone. He would not speak to me.

I have been with him in the jungle. Wet for days. Walking endlessly. Killing bugs, pulling leeches. Hungry, tired and alone. He would not speak to me.

Yet, I cannot say he never spoke to me. There was a time as he cradled a fellow warrior in his arms.....He said, "Oh God! How will I tell his daughter?" Tired, alone with fear this time.

And now as he prepares to leave the warriors life, he asks....."Forgive me?" "Of course, I reply".

Your silence is understood here. As are you and your brothers.

"Q"

[slcraig]

Q,
Haven't actually written anything down, but certainly have had the thoughts...very good post, I can relate. Hope you get some more so that those of us who have a hard time putting our feelings down can enjoy and relate to.
Stevie

[NousDefionsDoc]

Beautiful Q. Simply beautiful.

[Pandora]

Q.,

Eloquent and elegantly moving. So few words, yet they seem to capture all that members here express of the experience of the SF Brotherhood.

Thank you. I am in awe.

God Bless all of our Warriors.

[Warrior-Mentor]

Thanks Q.

[Q]

I'm glad you guys like it. I really want anyone else out there who might have something to join in. It don't have to be yours just something you may have seen or heard. I've got another one signed unkown sent to me by an old "leg" (used in an affectionate way of course) buddy from the 101st. I'll post it in a bit. What got me thinking about this sort of thing was that old Christmas song that gets played on the country stations each year...I believe its called the "Soldiers or Warriors Christmas" ?? I think we or better yet our fellow countymen need to hear more of that type music to remind them why they can get up every mornin' free. Well, this is me jumpin' off the soapbox. See ya in a bit. "Q".

[Q]

OK, here is the one my old "Leg" buddy from the 101 sent me:


The soldier stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.


"Step forward now, you soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?"


The soldier squared his shoulders and said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.


I've had to work Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And somethimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.


But, I never took a penny,

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.


And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.


I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.


If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.


There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the soldier waited quietly,

For the judgement of his God.


"Step forward now, you soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell."


Author Unknown

"Q".

[ethikz]

Q I would like to say first, the first one you wrote was just very calming and beauitful. The second one was also beautiful and it made me stop and think if I can relate to anything in that nature which was very refreshing.

[GhostInTheShell]

I've never been in the situation and can't imagine what it is like, but I know a beautiful piece of work when I read it.

Very nice, Q. That song is nice, too, but I think your work is more deeply rooted in the emotions of a warrior.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

[helicom6]

From Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, 1916

Young Fellow My Lad

" Where are you going, Young Fellow My Lad,
On this glittering morn of May?"
"I'm going to join the Colours, Dad;
They're looking for men, they say."
"But you're only a boy, Young Fellow My Lad;
You are'nt obliged to go."
" I'm seventeen and a quarter, Dad,
and ever so strong, you know."

"So you're off to France, Young Fellow My Lad,
And you're looking so fit and bright."
"I'm terribly sorry to leave you, Dad,
But I feel that I'm doing right."
"God bless you and keep you, Young Fellow My Lad,
You're all of my life, you know."
"Don't worry. I'll be back, dear Dad,
And I'm awfully proud to go."

"Why don't you write, Young fellow My Lad?
I watch for post each day;
And I miss you so, and I'm awfully sad,
And it's months since you went away.
And I've had the frie in the parlour lit,
And I'm keeping it burning bright
Till my boy comes home; and here i sit
Into the quiet night."

"What is the matter, Young Fellow My Lad?
No letter again to-day.
Why did the postman look so sad,
And sighed as he went away?
I hear them tell that we've gained new ground,
But a terrible price we've paid:
God grant, my boy, That you're safe and sound;
But Oh I'm afraid, afraid."

"They've told me the truth, Young Fellow my Lad:
You'll never come back again:
(Oh God! The dreams and the dreams I've had,
And the hopes I've nursed in vain!)
For you passed in the night, Young Fellow My Lad,
And you proved in the cruel test
Of the screaming shell and battle hell
That my boy was one of the best.

"So you'll live, you'll live, Young Fellow my Lad,
In the gleam of the evening star'
In the wood-note wild and the laugh of a child,
In all sweet things that are.
And you'll never die, my wonderful boy,
While life is noble and true;
For all our beauty and hope and joy
We will owe to Lads like you."

Enough said! Good Night

[huntcg]

Thank you,
That poem was profound.

[Five-O]

And if I go while you're still here.....

Know that I still live on,
Vibrating to a different measure
behind a thin veil you cannot see through

You will not see me,
so you must have faith

I wait the time when we can soar together again,
both aware of each other.

Until then, live your life to the fullest,
And when you need me,
Just whisper my name in your heart......I will be there

[Q]

Alright, we are finally getting some response. Thanks guys, quality stuff. I appreciate the kudos. I know there are more out there. Some of you have sent me some really outstanding words on the PM. Thats great but the guys you want to read this are here. We have a problem amongst "Type A" personalities, we don't talk much. We don't give up whats down deep. Until its quiet and you are alone. Whether you are at home or not. Then it all starts coming back to you and you've got to dump it. You can write your own, appreciate some good words from a brother or read something written out of respect. This is your/our opportunity to get it off your chest or help a brother or just plain show some respect. Awaiting your thoughts.

[Q]

Back again! I just read Billy's book. I changed my signature to a quote he made at the front of his book. Here is the whole thing:

Then I heard the Lord's voice, saying, "Whom can I send? Who will go for us?" So I said, "Here I am. Send me!" Then the Lord said, "Go and tell this to the people:
You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn. Make the minds of these people dumb. Shut their ears. Cover their eyes. Otherwise, they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears.
They might really understand in their minds and come back to me and be healed." Then I asked. "Lord, how long should I do this?"
He answered,
"Until the cities are destroyed and the people are gone, until there are no people left in the houses, until the land is destroyed and left empty.

Isaiah 6: 8-12

[Polar Bear]

Build Me a Son
General Douglas A. MacArthur


Build me a son, O Lord,
who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,
and brave enough to face him self when he is afraid;
one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,
and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be
where his backbone should be;
a son who will know Thee- and that
to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,
but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.
Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm;
here, let him team compassion for those who fall.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high;
a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men;
one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep;
one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his,
add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor,
so that he may always be serious,
yet never take himself too seriously.

Give him humility, so that he may always remember
the simplicity of true greatness,
the open mind of true wisdom,
the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper,
"I have not lived in vain."