I was watching as the parade passed by
All the soldiers and the tanks
I figured that in some small way
I must go tell them "Thanks"

I worked my way throughout the crowd
To where the parade would end
And hopefully my small  "thanks"
Would get me a new friend

I watched as people finished
I got my words straight in my head
I walked up to a soldier
And this is what he said...

I am not a hero
Just a soldier, nothing more
I'm just doing my duty
As so many have before

I'm a soldier, not a hero
I am just the same as you
I'm just doing my duty
As I know that you would too

I shook his hand and said my "Thanks"
Then I moved away, unnerved
I had to tell him more...
Tell him that I'm glad he served

I turned and at that moment
I saw, a glint, a little sheen
Right above this mans left boot
Where his shin bone should have been

I went back on my mission
I had my words there in my head
He smiled, pulled his pant leg down
And this is what he said...

I am not a hero
Just a soldier, nothing more
I'm just doing my duty
As so many have before

I'm a soldier, not a hero
I am just the same as you
I'm just doing my duty
As I know that you would too

I shook his hand and smiled
Left him standing all alone
With a leg of polished metal
Where once before was bone

To me, he is a hero
And he will be 'till he's dead
I remember how he cut me off
And I remember what he said....

I am not a hero
Just a soldier, nothing more
I'm just doing my duty
As so many have before

I'm a soldier, not a hero
I am just the same as you
I'm just doing my duty
As I know that you would too

By Arcassin Burnham

Wake up from the dead like
The crow on a Sunday morning
Piercing it's eyes on Monday's newspaper,
Making sure the world sees a different path,
Wouldn't feel like this if I had a laugh,
Piecing together what I can to find a day
Without pain,
You have a better way of seeing things,
But we're not the same,
I try the highs and lows for myself,
But nothing commences,
No change,
No sign of self worth,
Like I was made in a test tube frozen
In a block of ice,
I'm nothing more than a discovery in my own image,
For that I shouldn't long to exist,
I should clear,
I should erase,
I should fade.

skipping stones across the water
walking beside the ocean's daughter
listening to nature as she sings
taking in the rapture that living brings
                  
Thoughts that she
cannot unthink;
a life that she
cannot unlive.
                
Dreams she has yet to live
and a soul full of fire
looking under every stone
seeking her heart's desire
                
Afraid to see whats underneath.
We stay to the surface
afraid of the ghostly deep,
for there are shipwrecks
              
What lurks beneath at fathoms deep
will not disturb a good nights sleep
for as long as we can stay afloat
courage shall be our own lifeboat
                      
But skipping stones eventually fall
To depths they haven't ventured yet
but, that's when life begins to be lived
when we reach deeper depth
                  
Skipping stones across my mind
like those lucid dreams we hope to find
but in the end we are not alone
having reached the shore with that lucky stone*
                          
Happiness is a skipping stone

I dreamt I married someone beautiful
and when I woke up,
I was still alone.
I'm afraid of that.

in the San Bernardino hills
so many dead or dying
terrorism kills.

but, folks, I have to wonder
so many "evil" guns
will our rights also be taken?
to protect daughters and sons?

I'm listening to mom's TV
with a heavy heart
so many lives just ravaged
so many torn apart!

is our city next?
it causes a tear
but I won't succumb to hate
I won't give in to FEAR!

whatever awaits in this short life
I won't be afraid
I will praise You in this storm
my heart steadfast and staid

this is what I pray about
I know I am not wrong
that this tension doesn't escalate
and we finally use

THE BOMB!


SoulSurvivor
(C) 12/3/2015