Dreams And Nightmares
Like flocks of sheep they're floating by
The fleece white clouds, against blue skies
While ocean waves forever roll
Surge rise and sink before the eyes
Like memories of what has been
And never, never again will be.
A summer day, so long ago
With bright blue skies and golden glow
Of sunbeams dancing back and forth
While all the birds with trembling chords
Spread far and wide the loving word
And all the glory of the Lord.
The war till then a nightmarish dream
With thundering noise became more real
The screams of pain that I could hear
An unknown sound to an untrained ear.
Above the noise of buildings crumbling
While from the planes the bombs kept tumbling.
The clouds of dust were rising high
And veiled the terror in the skies
Deaf to the sounds, blind to the sights
I followed a vision of my mind
A road unknown to my mortal eyes
While with each step, hope slowly died.
"How many years slowly passed by
How many days, how many nights?"
I was removed from hope and fear
There was no voice to enchant my ear
No word to still or soothe my heart
Silent the strings of my soul's harp.
No mortal being I'd ever seen
No horror in the worst of dreams
Or fiction on a movie screen
Looked like the thing there at my feet.
A heap of rags, no form, no shape
Part white, part black with bloodred shades.
And still the bombs were coming down
While burning planes would spin and fall
Fire and flames the only light
On this doomsday darker than night
Shrouded in dust, like widows veils
The telltale sign of death and pain.
The quietness grew eerie and strange
And movement stirred the mangled shape
A sound from lips that were not there
A whispered name out of nowhere
But I could hear distinct and clear
His farewell words reaching my ear.
Horror had spared the eyes so dear
There was no trace of pain or fear
And in their depths remained a gleam
Of tender love, memories and dreams
For just a moment more before
They looked away and saw no more.
But in my heart the horror I bore
Long after it was there no more
Some things as long as there is breath
Are not that easy to forget
And memories like birds will fly
Against the stormy winds of time.
In Flander's field, peaceful and quiet
His imortal soul went on its flight
While mortal frame was laid to rest
In a cold grave with prayers blessed
But while flesh and bone slowly decayed
His spirit kept calling my name.
Again I see bright azure skies
With my mind's imaginary sight
And fields of flowers that gaily flutter
Stirred by the breeze that lazily loiters
Or by a loving spirit's hand
Lost in a strange and faraway land.
And in my dreams at night I dwell
Called by a voice I knew so well
Under the starlight skies we roam
In faraway places all our own
While on my bed my body lies
In a deep slumber, or so it seems.
On other nights I feel quite clear
And feel what my ears can not hear
A loving spirit I can not see
And words hushing me back to sleep
Tranquil because I know he is near
Closing my eyes, drying my tears.
