by
Elmer Ake
Or did we just catch a glimpse of hell?
We have pitched our tents on hallowed ground
Where no other habitation can be found
A desolate place peaceful and still nary a sound
Not another soul for miles around.
As soldiers have done since the beginning of time
We build a fire, sit around and watch the sun go down
A few birds are chirping in the trees
The grass is gently stirred by an evening breeze
Then lifts ahigh and slowly shakes the leaves
And tears the web the spider weaves.
Now the evening sun is sikning low
In the East the evening star begins to glow
My comrades have one by one arose
To find their blankets for a nights repose
To find sleep and rest from the days toil and woes
And to find relief from the days hard blows.
The darkness now walks about
And just the dying embers keeps it out
Only a couple of us are still sitting here
When we hear footsteps coming near
And out of the shdows a stranger do'es appear
An Officer from a long ago year.
He says I am Lt. Anderson, may I rest by your fire
May I sit here a little while? I will only stay an hour.
Then he went on to say I lost all my men today
They were with me at the Hornets nest as I led the way
But when I turned to look they had gone astray
And as I looked a tear fell on his coat of gray.
As I sat and listened I was entranced
with each word he spoke I was more enhanced
I got up and threw more wood on the fire
And the sparks flew high from the pyre.
As the flames rose higher and higher
I saw ghostly figures standing in the surrounding bower.
Hundreds of men were standing around
Yet no one spoke nor did they make a sound.
Strange looking men in blood soaked grey
In the fire light they seemed to shift and sway.
Eyes shinning in faces colorless as clay
You knew these men had been through hell that day.
These strange apparitions with their burnign eyes
Had charged the gates of hell had heard the devils cries.
Then Anderson spoke looking straight at me.
As you are now so once were we
And as we are now you so shall be
Just a sentence on a page in history.
The ghostly forms are moving more near
And in my heart a twinge of fear.
Their uniforms are torn and tattered
Mud in their hair is dry and matted
Dirty bandages with blood and gore are splattered
Dirty bare feet and legs that look slatted.
Gray wraiths that do not see or feel
Holding weapons that shine like polished steel.
Lt. Anderson spoke what they had done
How across that terrible field they had run
How the deadly fire had killed everyone
No one lived to see the setting sun.
From the distance comes a muffled drum beat
And Lt. Anderson arises from his seat.
We watch the wraiths form a skirmish line
With Bayonets that glimmer and shine
When you watch it sends chills down your spine
You know they will do this till the end of time.
Then Vern looks at me and shakes his head
And we stumble off to bed.
When the dawn breaks and the sun peeps through
And we put on our coats of blue.
Then we form our lines straight and true
Lt. Anderson we are waiting here for you.
