If Ever (Poem)

This poem was written for Memorial Day to honor our brave men and women who contributed the most selfless sacrifice of all.

If ever life could be more true;

Give more valor, love, and faith…

If ever life could be more gleeful;

Take joy from the strongest hate…

If ever life could be more worthwhile;

Prolong passion, courage, and lives…

Then the wars may end.

Life is worth living:

Life, however, is not worth the cost of giving;

But those who dedicate their life

They receive something more:

They receive treasures unknown to the frightened

To the fearful.

They take challenges issued to only the chosen

Those which are given proudly to the brave.

Their choices determine the freedom of others—

Their choices create possibilities

Numerous as the stars.

If ever the world desires their fight,

If ever the world desires their arms…

They provide.

They will stand as guardians of freedom.

The world—it’s a strong place,

But even stronger,

It is with these:

Those men and women who ride into the night.

Those men and women who survive the firing…

The fear…

The loneliness…

The separation…

The curtain of death…

But then again, some do not

 

And these

These fallen are the most treasured of them all.

The world may someday pass,

And the sun may set;

The moon may dry and float away like dust

Because the veterans who gave their lives

Lost to a war.

And we did not listen to their ghosts.

Yet, still there is a chance

For you all are sitting here

Remembering.

Cherishing.

Trusting.

Praising.

Their lives have passed and their sun has set:

Their everlasting night has dawned.

But with a full, and guiding moon.

Those veterans who gave their lives

Gave their all to us.

So giving back to them…

That…

That is what we must do.

Pass strangers with trust.

Avoid hate, change lives.

For the better.

Heal.

Don’t hurt…

And let war, which will end the world,

Rest beside the brave who died within its darkness

Let these teachers lying around us

Let them all know that their lives were taken

But their lessons

Their lessons were not

We will remember their teachings

We will remember them.

And then

And only then

Can life be more true

Can life be more gleeful

Can life be more worthwhile

Can veterans’ lives not be a heedless sacrifice.