Neath the weeping willow tree,
I sit and weep for thee.
Off in a land far away--
missing you today and everyday--
fearful for your welfare;
grateful others like you are there;
but wishing peace enveloped the earth
and everyone respected each other's worth
so there would be no need
for men like you to do those deeds...

People leave their families and their pregnant wives
to fight for and protect others' lives.
It brings me to tears every time I see
a young man greeted back home by his wife & their new-born baby...

How can we thank them? I doubt we truly can,
but we must ensure they get our support
and help whenever they need a hand.


I'm somewhat embarrassed to say
that if my son announced a desire to join the police force or military,
I'd lock him in a room, throw away the key,
tell him to stay there till he comes to his senses or I'll give him a knee...

I don't know how one deals with sending a loved one off to war.
My grandmother lost her son
but it was long before I was born
so it was something I could ignore.
But every Remembrance Day I mourn her loss,
somewhat understanding her cost.

It's such a sad state of affairs in the world today;
Horrors splayed every day.
Sometimes I avoid the news,
go for a hike, commune with nature, spend some time in a church pew...
but it's not something from which I can easily hide
no matter how much time I spend outside.

I suppose I'll just have to keep hoping the Earth portrayed in StarTrek
will one day exist for real--not just in a romanticized flick...

But I guess being peaceful in one's own heart
would be a very fine way to start...