JOURNEYTOWALL

I've journeyed across the country again and again

To my hometown, place of my next of kin

I go to see them naturally

But there are deeper reasons in reality

To pay respect to some special friends

While some I knew get lost in time

These men and women are not hard to find

Almost forgotten once without a trace

Now they have their special place

First time I journeyed to their sacred ground

I heard in the depths of silence their every sound

I looked for names upon the wall

Names I tried to remember but couldn't recall

Overwhelmed in emotions so hard to bear

Each named on the granite seemed unfair

As for a moment I stood in my tracks

Reflecting in time as I looked back

I froze on the spot and could not move

All around me people seemed lost as they roamed

Up and down searching with their quiet moans

But I had come to this place and I was home

But this walk I was taking seemed alone

My heart cried out for others to hear

Why am I here and you are there?

I slowly walked down each stone in the ground

I could hear my thumping heart sound

Voices were coming from the black granite before me

Tears steadily rolled down my face

As being with them started a healing

I was overcome by a barrage of new feelings

My steps slowed to a turtle's pace

This time i was with an old friend for is first time

I walked before him as the journey began

Time for his healing was at hand

From the corner of my eyes i saw his tears

In my silence and stillness i hid my fears

A certain denial came over me

Something to do with my PTSD

Triggering stuff in of my own memories

His tears remind me of my first time

As I approached the wall I started crying

Faces appeared in front of me

As I searched for names of those I've longed to see

I swell up with emotions each step I take

I touch the names inscribed within

Tracing with my fingers embraced by each of them

Deeper into the valley I stepped - at each panel i wept

A reflection of me each step of the way

I stopped in prayer to my fallen comrades

I search for words to them to say

I tell them here I am today

Because of the price you did pay

I tell them I'll never forget

I tell them you gave your all

I tell them Welcome Home!