To Honor Us



To honor us on this day
in fields afar in graves we lay.
You know us not, why should you care?
So long ago our souls laid bare.

Our lifeless bodies now but dust.
The cannons silent from the rust.
Should honor be from guns report?
What meaning had our lives so short?

For country far from perfect stood
our brothers here who knew they would
strive together through the fight.
Losing all for what thought right.

Black and Brown, no colors tell
Asian, Native all fought so well.
Never equal rights enjoyed.
All the same their guns employed.

For freedoms sake we joined the fray
but for our brothers we died one day.
For freedoms sake we took the fall.
This gift to you is from us all.

Honor to all not honor to some.
Our blood ran red whoever from.
All being equal in God’s sight.
Honor to all, it’s only right.

So honor us with your gift of life.
Protect the truth, endure the strife.
For untruths told with selfish aim
there is no honor, a dangerous game.

For freedom’s price we bore the sword.
To honor us, then spread word.
Dream the dreams of Dr. King.
To love each other, that’s the thing.

To honor us then lead the way.
Make something better each precious day.
Your freedom has a heavy cost.
Without due care it will be lost.

To honor us you must stay strong
and teach your children right from wrong.
The future world is in their hands.
Let justice prevail in all the lands.

About this poem

As Memorial Day approaches, this poem is intended to honor those in the military who died while in service to our country.

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Written on May 10, 2024

Submitted by ggburnette on May 10, 2024

1:31 min read
112

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH AAII JJFF KKLL XXMM AAXX NNOO
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,397
Words 304
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

George Burnette

I'm a 1976 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. I served as a pilot in the Air Force and then National Guard for a total of nine years. After a couple of years as a computer programmer/analyst, I resumed a flying career as a pilot for a major airline retiring in 2016. I live in Maui now. Activities include playing golf and various volunteer interests. I also paddle canoe as a member of the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society. more…

All George Burnette poems | George Burnette Books

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"To Honor Us" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/187439/to-honor-us>.

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