The Memory Drawer

I pulled a first remembrance from the mem’ry chest
And set it on the table for a while
We reminisced for hours of the time we met
The both of us were sitting with a smile

But soon the sun was setting and the shadows crept
And I returned the mem'ry to its place
Then somewhere in the mem’ry chest, the mem’ry wept
But seems those tears were painted on my face

I looked into the mirror o'r the mem’ry chest
As light was fading softly from the day
Then hushed my tears and counted all the ways I’m blessed
And took the mem’ry out once more to play

The Sunken Road III. Antietum Creek

I was just a baritone choirboy
Followin' orders and friends
In such pursuit, I learned how to shoot
And how to take means to their ends

Then one night the Captain he stopped me
And asked me if I had the stuff
To lead a brave comp'ny of men up the hill
Did I think I was up to snuff?

The words I spoke to the Captain
Haunt me now many years past
"I'll lead where you say and we'll carry the day."
My chance for glory at last

So I called the men 'round in the wee hours
And boasted of my new command
They looked at me stark out there in the dark
Now I held their lives in my hands

We all went back to our billets
And gathered our meager effects
Then penned letters home to those we had known
And wills of our final directs

The dawn broke cold and remorseless
Our breakfast was bacon and tack
Then I led with a hymn of bein' home again
And our spirits were better on track

We mustered in front of the others
And formed in orderly lines
Then bravely struck out with a soldierly shout
As the sun rose over the pines

Halfway up the hill no resistance
So we all broke into a run
Our colors were stiff in a crisp morning wind
You’d almost have thought it was fun

Then the first volley busted our rapture
And brought us all back to our roots
But we dared not relent and redoubled our bent
As if we had wings on our boots

The front rank was startin’ to stumble
And some were cryin’ and prayin’
As lead and sorrow fell on our troop
Like water falls from rain

We'd all been pressing hard forward
When the bugle blew recall
So we parried our tack and all doubled back
Yet we still continued to fall

I picked up the colors a lyin'
Where the troop who was sportin' them fell
I raised them again for the faith of my friends
And we all let out a loud yell

It seemed like an eternal journey
To make it back down to our kin
I fell to my knees and begged the Lord please
don't send us back up there again

I turned to rally my comp'ny
And found my self standin' alone
They were still in the field that would not yield
I was all that was left of my own

Then the captain called me a hero
That honor was mine that day
But I wasn't much proud and I wept out loud
'Cause my troops were the ones who had paid

The battle was done in a few days
And a truce was called for a while
To gather the dead all shot up with lead
And bury them soldierly style

Pinned in the backs of their jackets
Nestled there in the fair ferns
Were the letters and wills, hair locks and bills
Stamped for their own self return

Now that the fightin's all over
I went back home to my call
I remember my men when fall comes again
And the others who served with us all

So don't take for granted your freedom
Remember that some here were pressed
And how brave comp'nies of men fight for you
And charge you not for their deaths

I was just a baritone choirboy
Followin' orders and friends

Memorial Day

I called to them but they were gone
Yet still I hear their crys
Of Rebel yells and cannon shells
Then silent bye and bye

So it is that we are born
Of Patriot Rebel kin
For us the shackles torn away
Moved forward from our sin

From Kings we came, slave and master
Down to brothers in the end
Tightly grip the thread that binds us
Lest we be torn from the limb

We alone of all the nations
Shed our blood for freedoms call
So Gods' blessings do abound us
Save us even when we fall

Ner' forget the ones who've served us
Honor every end of May
Cheer the brave and weary soldier
Here at home and far away

Easter

Gethsemane, we found our Lord
Bleeding there from every pore
Taking then the bitter cup
To save us all with Holy Love

Betrayed there, came they for his skin
Since Judas, Satan entered in
Thirty pieces was the weight
That seeming sealed our Saviors fate

But railed He not against the field
By Grace the severed ear He healed
Then borne away and roughly so
Yet anger did our Lord not show

In the Temple of his Father
Blind men sent Him to be slaughtered
Still He did not raise a hand
Christ the Sacrificial Lamb

So to the Roman Governor
The mob proceeded through the door
But Pilate found no fault in him
And saw the special soul within

Then rioting, the mob did chant
Give us Barabbas, kill this man
So Pilate turned Barabbas free
And beat the Lord relentlessly

So showed the visage marred to them
And washed he then his bloody hands
A wooden cross was bound to Him
Whom Pilate judged was without sin

To Calvary with whips and cords
They drove our Savior on before
In weariness he stumbled such
That Simone the Cyrene helped crutch

On the two did bear the tree
Nailed to it  our Lord would be
Then cried out did the King Of Jews
"Forgive, they know not what they do!"

Then gambled did they for his cloak
And to the Heavens Jesus spoke
Abba, Abba can't You see?
Why has't Thou forsaken Me?

Then in the sky a Heavn'ly Host
Appeared and Christ gave up the Ghost
So in the tomb they laid our Lord
And rolled a stone before the door

Then three days hence was Easter Morn
And Christ arose in flesh reborn
Salvation now fait accompli
With nail marks in His hands and feet

Mark we this day, and waiting brave
That He arose man's soul to save
So I to all my kindred say
"He comes again, prepare the way!"

Palm Sunday

On a colt, the foal of a donkey
The King removed the veil
So tell ye the daughter of Sion
He comes, prepare the way.
Then laid upon the road there
Were garments, palms and faith
Hosanna in the highest
The King reveals his face

The multitude told the city
Of Galilee they say
From Nazareth by the sea side
He comes, prepare the way.
Then laid upon the road there
Were garments, palms and faith
Hosanna in the highest
The King reveals his face

Then went the King to the Temple
And wept he for the fate
T'was carried upon his shoulders
He comes, prepare the way.
Then laid upon the road there
Were garments, palms and faith
Hosanna in the highest
The King reveals his face

The Death of Justice

Fitzgerald! Fitzgerald! your fearful trial is done;
The lie has weathered every rack, the scalp you sought soon won;
The jurys out, though they're in doubt, the kossacks are exulting,
While follow all the comic tale of Wilson, grim and daring.
But O Karl! Karl! Karl!
O the swelled and manxome head!
Now mocking truth, justice lies
Fallen cold and dead.

II.
O jury! dear Jury! rise up and take the bait;
Rise up! For you the shite is flung, for you the kossacks wait:
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths, for Scooters scalp a'bringing:
For you they wait, the seething mob, their eager faces turning.
Here Jury! dear jury!
It's Rove that's in your head;
It is some dream and woven web,
Fitz prays your logic's dead.

III.
The Fitzmas did not snag him, his lips are pale and thin;
He's free to walk and talk the talk that Nancy's off her ken;
The case is finished safe and sound, its cozen closed and done;
From hoax and tripe and closing's shite awaits the object won!
Exult, O Times, and gull, O Post!
But I with mournful dread,
Walk the rue where justice lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

The Study Group

They studied restudied and pondered
Then postulated in prose
They offered recommendations
That only pertained to those
The poor poor rabble and scrabble
They offered naught of their kind
The high and lofty elitist
That wander round practically blind

Hold Onto Your Love

The nest was empty so it seems that nature had it’s way
Oh how I loved to watch them frolic there among the leaves
Yet in that frolic vigilance was ruling every move
And those forgetting that were first to go

Ever waiting there are those to catch unguarded bliss
Careful now or Christmas lights and love will rended be
We teeter on the edge, hand in hand traverse the blade
Hold onto your love this moment passing

The sum of what is true, that all there is are we together
It’s sad that some amongst us cannot see
I decorate the tree to mark the beauty of the moment
When God sent here a lifeboat for us all

There are those who’ll rend the very fabric that enfolds them
And there are those who sew the ragged edge
Still every morn the brightly feathered nest in bliss amongst us
Knowing well in time it will come down

Hold onto your love this moment passing
Mark well the path along the Holy Blade
Remember Christ came for us all and frolic vigilantly
Hold onto your love this moment passing

Lucy Ramirez

The desert air cooled quickly as the sun sank behind El Paso. "I should have brought a jacket." grumbled the short man. The taller man got down off the backhoe and moved quickly to the back of the Suburban. "Shutup!" he barked "Help me with the package." The two men pulled the bodybag from the back of the SUV and tossed it into the hole. Then they threw in the half dozen new car batteries and a small time bomb. The tall man returned to the backhoe and expertly filled the hole. After the backhoe was loaded on the trailer and they drove quietly away there was a distinct thump where they had been digging. The tall man smiled and said "Call Shrum and tell him Ms. Ramirez has gone to Mexico."

Reading the sunday paper was interrupted by the clatter of his cell phone. Bob Shrum swollowed hard when he saw the caller ID. "I have to take this honey." he half apologized. The voice on the other end was almost jovial "Mr Shrum?" Shrum paused a long second "Yes it is." the voice continued "Mr Shrum we tracked Ms. Ramirez to a dead end. Apparently she has gone to Mexico."
Shrum muttered a terse thank-you and hung up immediately.
"Anything wrong dear?" Anything wrong!? After all this time she still hadn't learned not to ask that question.
"No honey. I just need to pass a message along." Shrum hit number three on the speed dial and somewhere in Austin a cellphone vibrated."
"Ben?"
"Hello Shrummy; what's the word?"
"She's gone to Mexico"
"Excellent. I'll call Danny."

Ode To Protein Wisdom

I have an F-N-F-A-L
It's chambered 3 oh 8
I keep it clean and shiny
and trained upon the gate
With which repellent attributes
to keep my foes at bay
That they may not abuse my dog
or try to turn him gay
Yet you with pen and rapier wit
dissect your manxome foes
or ban their ass and banish them
to Eschatons foul hole
I will not mourn them nor lament
to us they are as dead
But it's OK, they're just away
on Duncan's open thread

France surrenders to Itself

France surrendered to itself at last
The thugs have ruled the day
And if you think that's not the fact
I've swampland in the Bay.
Where you may build your castle fair
To be so near the shore.
Where nature thence
Will take thee hence
And we will be no more.

To Son In Laws

Gentle spirit; favored son,
Wife and daughter you have won.
Dare not break the faith you've sworn.
Lest the shortest hair be shorn.