Tribute to our Brave Boys & Girls who are on Active Service around the World...

If Only
(written by bravolima) 15th September 2006

If we could turn back the hands of time
And see your smiling face
Those memories that we once had
We would like to retrace

We thought it would be forever
Never thinking it wouldn`t last
Our world is now shattered
We now live for the past

We think of you always
Never will we forget
Our love was forever
We have no regret

Your memory is our keepsake
With which we will never part
God may have you in his keeping
But we have you in our heart

Goodbyes are not forever
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean we`ll miss you
Until we meet again!


This poem I wrote in memory of our son who we sadly lost in 1998 at the age of 25 ....RIP mate ....

Death leaves a heartache, No one can heal ... Love leaves a memory, No one can steal.....


© The right of bravolima to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.….

All rights reserved. No part of these poems may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.

Shine wrote:How old are you, Bravo, if you don't mind my asking?

Shine I will be 58 in june ....... (old git arn`t I ??) ....lol

Not at all, Bravo, since Wisdom sits in command of your words, and your poetry is inspiring. I like it.

You have that warm sincerity beating within the song of your poems, Bravo, and this alone compels my mind to listen to every sound and syllable flowing from your thoughts. This is rare, and a joy to behold. Thank you.

He the soldier standing strong
She the wind that wraps
Laying down his empty arms
His energy she saps

One tear on the battle field
One tear from glass eyes
One tear acts as battle shield
One tear soldier cries

She the moment as knees did bend
She the strength and power
Sent to lift him from the field
Sent for him this hour

And it's song of beauty and the sadness of loss makes the soul of the reader weep, Bravo.

Shine wrote:You have that warm sincerity beating within the song of your poems, Bravo, and this alone compels my mind to listen to every sound and syllable flowing from your thoughts. This is rare, and a joy to behold. Thank you.

Shine, No, Thank you for your kind words I never realised that people would like my poetry. I will put some more on but they wont be mine ... but they will be aptly chosen for this thread ..... hope you like them .... and once again thank you ..... you`ve made an old man happy ..... lol

And to make a fellow happy, Bravo, brings a soft tear to my eye. We two have lived a life, and still have some life left to live, if Fortune favours our merry and blessed souls.

Beneath A Diamond Sky

A crisp and clear late summers night, my mind is drifting far
Back nearly forty years or so, to the fields of South Armagh
Back to the time when I was young, when life was new, And death was, too
And in my mind, I catch the smells, of new cut grass, and late night dew
Of whispering trees, and whispering grass, and all those sounds of night
The sudden run of unseen hare, the sounds that gave us all a fright
Then on we`d walk, with silken step, between the hedgerows, body`s forced
Avoiding gaps that may be wired, avoiding paths where streams once coursed
Skirting round abandoned farms, with mouldy smells of rotting wood
To venture into unseen ruins would not be wise, would not be good
And slowly, as the night progressed, we made our torturous route
Stopping every now and then, on haunches sat, adjusting straps,
re-hanging kit, tightening up a loosened boot
Until at last we find our way, to our new `home` of many a day
Just fallen stones, where in the past, a wall once stood, but now collapsed
And here we`ll stay, to watch and wait, the `shuftyscope` hums low and green
Watching deep into the night, for distant cars, for men unseen
And as the dawn comes from the East, the pale light bathes the breeze bent grass
The blood drenched fields of South Armagh revealed now to all who pass

And so in age, my head lifts up, a tear of memory fills my eye
And I remember friends who died, so long ago, beneath a diamond sky

'To venture into unseen ruins', Bravo, I like that line, as it reflects my life.

The Soldier and God

The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass

Step forward you Soldier
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my Church have you been true?

The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
No, Lord, I guess I ain`t
Because those of us that carry guns
Can`t always be a saint

I`ve had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough
And sometimes I`ve been violent
Because the world is awfully rough

But, I never took a penny
That wasn`t mine to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep

And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear
And sometimes, God forgive me
I`ve wept unmanly tears

I know I don`t deserve a place
Among the people here
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears

If you`ve a place for me here
Lord, It needn`t be so grand
I never expected or had too much
But if you don`t, I`ll understand

There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly
For the judgment of his God

Step forward now, you Soldier
You`ve borne your burden well
Walk peacefully on Heaven`s streets
You`ve done your time in Hell

Shine wrote:'To venture into unseen ruins', Bravo, I like that line, as it reflects my life.

Yes Shine never would I venture into unseen ruins ... especially in South Armagh ... argh ... memories those were the days .....

A Soldier's son

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray dear Lord, my soul you'll keep, My mummy says I need to pray, For many others on this day, But my daddy - he's a soldier of this I'm sure you know, He helps protect our freedom, I was sad to see him go. Although I know he's safe with you, I'd rather have him here,' cause he's the one who always said, With prayer, there's no fear. Dear Lord , I know you hear me, Way up in the sky, Please protect my daddy, I wish he was here tonight.
I love you daddy!

Worth Fighting For

Sometimes I wonder Why I am here
I hope I can hide these feelings of fear. I pray every night asking God for protection.
Lord please guide me in the right direction. It's hard to be so far away from all that I know.
How long will I stay? Halfway around the world in this country at war
I'm defending our Freedom and that's worth fighting for.

Sometimes an extraordinary song sings in the soul, Bravo, which can compel even the most faint heart to venture out amidst the greatest battery of bullets, and in the mind of this 'urge' is a soft, sublime, and most sweet vision of Death, of meeting Death, but not being afraid of it. Oftentimes though, Death itself slithers beneath his cloak from such forwardness.

GOT YOUR BACK

I am a small and precious child, my dad's been sent to fight...
The only place I'll see his face, is in my dreams at night.
He will be gone too many days for my young mind to keep track.
I may be sad, but I am proud. My daddy's got your back.

I am a caring mother. My son was sent to war...
My mind is filled with worries that I have never known before.
Every day I try to keep my thoughts from turning black.
I may be scared, but I am proud. My son has got your back.

I am a strong and loving wife, with a husband soon to go.
There are times I'm terrified in a way most never know.
I bite my lip, and force a smile as I watch my husband pack...
My heart may break, but I am proud My husband's got you back...

I am a soldier, serving proudly, standing tall.
I fight for freedom, yours and mine by answering this call.
I do my job while knowing, the thanks it sometimes lacks.
Say a prayer that I'll come home. It's me who's got your back

Shine wrote:Sometimes an extraordinary song sings in the soul, Bravo, which can compel even the most faint heart to venture out amidst the greatest battery of bullets, and in the mind of this 'urge' is a soft, sublime, and most sweet vision of Death, of meeting Death, but not being afraid of it. Oftentimes though, Death itself slithers beneath his cloak from such forwardness.

Shine it`s the one thing that i have never been afraid of, death ... it`s the only thing whether you are young, old, rich, poor, famous or not ... where we all go .... death is something that we cannot conquer in our lifetime ....... (sorry to be so morbid) ....

High Street of Tears.

A small town a large street,
Wootton Bassett So pretty so neat
Floods of tears for the heroes they weep
The flags are draped, the heroes beneath,

Wootton Bassett the one way street.


We watch for the plane with fear and dread
As we know the cargo, our heroes, our dead,
They send them away to fight for freedom
For honour, for democracy but no food to feed them.

Wootton Bassett our town of the dead.

No money no armour no choppers they said
Just do your best with your gun and your lead,
Make us proud our minister's babble
We need the money for expenses and travel

Wootton Bassett our town of the dead.

The people scream, give them their needs
Our men are dying on knees they plead
Hear our prayers hear our fears
On Wootton Bassett's high street of tears

We meet their needs state the men at the top
The toll is acceptable so that's their lot
What compensation, why the greed,
We've spent the budget they have what they need.
So stop the whining and squash your fears
And stand in Wootton Bassett on the high street of tears

A Nation lives forever – indebted to your lives
You gave away your spirits, left behind your wives.

When one fell down, another would stand
To die for his country in a foreign land.

Together they fought ‘till the enemy lost
Fought for our freedom, whatever the cost.

I can come and go whenever, wander where I please -
Because of you a nation lives and breathes in ease.

Thank you for my life and freedom, my ability to roam
Because of you I can be proud to call this nation home

This poem is in honour of all the family members who have lost a loved one. The emotional pain and loss is beyond comprehension for them. My heart goes out to you..........

In this moment there is no beginning, no end and no peace….


I lie wrapped in folds of armour plate
within my home as grey as slate
I'm far away from land and shore
in peaceful sleep on a man of war
Come light of Day and morning sun
I'll check the functions of my gun
I'll check the Point and then the Train
and then I'll check it all again
For that's the gun that let's me sleep
and keeps me from a grave so deep
I'm now asleep, my mind at peace
but will my battles never cease ?
The years have gone, the gun is rust
so many friends are now just dust
But they are never far from me
although some sleep beneath the sea
For them no songs are ever sung
but they will be forever young
Friends and relations shed their tears
forgotten now these many years
But some of us remember still
remember them, and always will
I ask them now for my release
or will my battles never cease

bravolima wrote:

Shine wrote:Sometimes an extraordinary song sings in the soul, Bravo, which can compel even the most faint heart to venture out amidst the greatest battery of bullets, and in the mind of this 'urge' is a soft, sublime, and most sweet vision of Death, of meeting Death, but not being afraid of it. Oftentimes though, Death itself slithers beneath his cloak from such forwardness.

Shine it`s the one thing that i have never been afraid of, death ... it`s the only thing whether you are young, old, rich, poor, famous or not ... where we all go .... death is something that we cannot conquer in our lifetime ....... (sorry to be so morbid) ....

I don't think it's 'morbid' at all, Bravo, as it's part of the tempo of life, and when the soft single beat of this life fails, another more rhythmic beat will sound upon another life; and herein the great cycle of existence is played out to a tune of birth and death. Our deeds in this life and the next determine our following life and charm, and ultimate rest within the stars of eternity.

A Soldier.......

If you can, save a place within your heart for the tired souls of war and conflict and as you walk away take one last backward glance at the places they can no longer go.
Remember what they have taught you and take their knowledge and wisdom with you so their deaths were not in vain. One day when we all look back and realize what they sacrificed, take a moment to embrace in your heart all those gentle heroes that were left behind on the battlefields fighting for their country. Let them know that you have always loved them even though you may not have.
Forever save a place in your hearts for them.

Bravo, why are poems absent of narrative?

I don't think it's 'morbid' at all, Bravo, as it's part of the tempo of life, and when the soft single beat of this life fails, another more rhythmic beat will sound upon another life; and herein the great cycle of existence is played out to a tune of birth and death. Our deeds in this life and the next determine our following life and charm, and ultimate rest within the stars of eternity.[/quote]



Shine i am a non believer ... once my life is over ... i will not be going anywhere else apart from that big oven ... then my ashes will be either spread or buried in the family grave ...

bravolima wrote:I don't think it's 'morbid' at all, Bravo, as it's part of the tempo of life, and when the soft single beat of this life fails, another more rhythmic beat will sound upon another life; and herein the great cycle of existence is played out to a tune of birth and death. Our deeds in this life and the next determine our following life and charm, and ultimate rest within the stars of eternity.

Shine i am a non believer ... once my life is over ... i will not be going anywhere else apart from that big oven ... then my ashes will be either spread or buried in the family grave ...[/quote]

That's fair enough, Bravo, but I'd like to believe your ashes will be cast and lost, but your soul will seek another life absent of strife, and pampered unto eternity in the soft cell of everlasting bliss.