"Symbols of Soldiering"
Copyright © 1995,2005
Jason Lester Atkins
985 Fleet Drive, #347
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
All Rights Reserved.
The sweet odor of rot
drifts past
on the fall breeze
as Mr. Lincoln delivers
his near perfect Gettysburg Address.
While out of sight,
across this dedicated field,
lie long furrows
of grass healed graves
filled with the last
forgotten dreams
of Eighteen Thousand
Rebel Dead.
By a later special warrant,
these forgotten bootless boys
are moved back South
to sleep together and lie nameless,
side by side,
in a fixed brigade
like Horizontal Marchers.
Stand quietly now and listen
to the pine branches
above these ranks of numbered markers,
whisper sad songs,
for their Last Honor
to a listening sky.
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