Gordon W. Belling

TWENTY ONE

October twenty one, nineteen sixty nine,
Vietnam, a trooper died in an ambush.
October twenty one, nineteen ninety one,
the soldier’s family, friends and all his old army
mates came together to hold a farewell service

It’s by far the hardest thing they’ve ever done,
say goodbye to someone not quite twenty one.
Further twenty years those saddened thoughts did dwell,
on memories of a good mate, who in battle fell.

It was like a darkness to remember him,
they had to say goodbye, let the mem’ry dim.
Twenty years they’d felt the burden on their back,
and they had to find the strength, where courage lacked.

Now the light is shining and the job is done.
May he rest in peace, the journey has begun.
Twenty years plus one, a long and solemn wait,
to bid farewell to a fallen wartime mate.