warrior soldier uncle priest
02/23/19
(a twenty-one syllable salute to Col. (Ret.) Rev. George W. Alexander II)
Warrior
If eye were a warrior
would stomp you into heaven
if eye were south pacific
would beat my breast and haka
you fearlessly, purify
the listening air with boom
of bare old hands on djembe
“the warrior is coming
the warrior is returning.”
Soldier
If eye were a soldier
would flag you way up half mast
would twenty-one salute you
with rounds that explode into
white poppies and white lotus
blossoms that rain upon the
spit polish slow parade for
you. Your heart: way too big for
oak boxed folded Stars-n-stripes.
Uncle
If eye were your nephew eye
would remember you with your
family reunion bear
hug that brought me back
(again) from alone into
home. You, well rooted upon
this good green earth, reached out in
faith and love. You remembered
me (hiding in some corner).
Priest
If eye wanted to be a
true servant of all, eye would
grow up to be just like you.
You, a fount of joy, courage,
curiosity, and most
of all love, were fluent in
humanity. You were our
warrior, soldier, uncle,
priest, and Father to us all.
Audio version
This is my reading of this poem at the Memorial Day Writers’ Project (MDWP): A Tribute to our Veterans, May 27, 2019, at Constitution Ave. and 20 St. NW (near The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall), Washington, DC.