The Anonymous Soldier
Beneath these granite monoliths we stand,
Immortalizing warriors’ names in stone.
We oft forget the sacrifices made,
For liberty is all we’ve ever known.
Amongst these tributes stands an unmarked grave,
A peaceful seeming monument of stone.
It rises proud for all the brave unnamed,
Who perished as crusaders for their home.
Why do we treat expendable their lives,
And push aside the liberty they gave?
They sacrificed that freedom’s light survives,
Should we not also value what they saved?
Why do we scorn the land they gave to us,
When for Her sake they died anonymous?
Lucy Lind is an 11th grader at Classical Keys Academy (Homeschool) in Lakeland, Florida.
Poignant, painful and plain true. Tnx.
Lucy, this is a great work of poetry about a subject not only near and dear to my heart, but one which must be communicated to your generation lacking in historical knowledge about the sacrifices made to preserve our way of life.
Lucy, I really like this poem for its message. It reminds me of a poem I wrote several years ago about a sailor from the War of 1812. I’d share it, but don’t want to diminish what you have written. ~Nan
A beautiful poem, Lucy, so very true and timely. Thank you for it.
Nice closing couplet, especially the rhyme.
Good questions, Lucy. As the sestet to your sonnet, they help evoke honor for fallen warriors named and for the brave unnamed in the sonnet’s octave. And appreciation for the land of liberty they bequeathed to us.