Blog Archives
Did You Ever Really Live?
It’s not how much you get
Nor how much you give.
A more important question begs an answer:
During all your endeavors, did you ever really live?
Working hard for wealth,
Recognition, or simply trying to be,
You paid a heavy price in time, stress, and aging
Because nothing comes for free.
We all work and struggle for our children,
Hoping they’ll accomplish more than we.
We want them to have a better life than us,
Yet nothing is for free.
Life teaches hard lessons.
Can knock you to your knees.
Never giving in but getting up
Is but one of a successful life’s keys.
We were put here for a purpose.
Many may not understand.
To do our best during our test,
Maybe lend a helping hand.
Some are doctors, lawyers, brokers,
Paupers or kings wearing a crown.
Others were musicians, writers,
Or poets of renown.
It was given to you freely.
It’s therefore yours to decide,
But one last thought I’ll venture
If you will abide.
You’ve worked so hard for others,
Please don’t die with your music still inside.
Anniversary of U.S.S. Arizona
After standing on the decks of the memorial for the U.S.S. Arizona,
I wrote this poem to honor our fallen comrades on the
50th Anniversary of that day, December 7, 1991.
It is included in my book, Autumn Leaves.
We came to pay you tribute,
O’er encrusted decks we stood.
And because you are deserving,
We rendered as we could.
Oil seeps up to surface light,
Rainbowed tears of those below,
Doomed forever to silence
Those many long years ago.
“Forget me not,” you whisper.
“Perish the thought,” say I.
“Though you sleep beneath the sea,
Your memory shall not die!”
“Remember Pearl! Remember Pearl!”
Soon became our national cry.
Our country rose in anger
On a vengeance trail to fly.
We shed our tears; we shed our blood.
War took an awesome toll.
Still we fought on to victory
While you topped our “Honor Roll.”
So rest in peace, fellow comrades,
The victory has been won.
We’ll not forget the price you paid
Seven December, Nineteen Forty-One.
Note: Oil still seeps out of the hull of the U.S.S. Arizona, creating rainbows on the water above it.
U.S.S. ARIZONA
After standing on the decks of the memorial for the U.S.S. Arizona,
I wrote this poem to honor our fallen comrades on the
50th Anniversary of that day, December 7, 1991.
It is included in my book, Autumn Leaves.
We came to pay you tribute,
O’er encrusted decks we stood.
And because you are deserving,
We rendered as we could.
Oil seeps up to surface light,
Rainbowed tears of those below,
Doomed forever to silence
Those many long years ago.
“Forget me not,” you whisper.
“Perish the thought,” say I.
“Though you sleep beneath the sea,
Your memory shall not die!”
“Remember Pearl! Remember Pearl!”
Soon became our national cry.
Our country rose in anger
On a vengeance trail to fly.
We shed our tears; we shed our blood.
War took an awesome toll.
Still we fought on to victory
While you topped our “Honor Roll.”
So rest in peace, fellow comrades,
The victory has been won.
We’ll not forget the price you paid
Seven December, Nineteen Forty-One.
Note: Oil still seeps out of the hull of the U.S.S. Arizona, creating rainbows on the water above it.
wfosterwelborn 