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Bronze Letters

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:21 pm
by rmbowen
Greetings, Shipmates -

April is National Poetry Month so I thought I would share a poem I started during my "nuc" training at the D1G prototype near Saratoga Springs, New York. They had a nice city park that I would often visit to relieve the stress of the long hours of studying and qualifying. Those of you who had the second phase of nuclear power training at the West Milton site will surely remember the park. The poem, begun in February, 1967 was finished on the 627 while on patrol (as were a lot of poems).

Thank you for your interest in the poetry and prose section of the Madison Reunion website.

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BRONZE LETTERS

I was drawn to them like the evening shadows:
A group of columns on a quiet lake,
A memorial erected to honor a gallant few;
Men who died in War’s terrible wake.

But for these men, whose names appear here,
Embossed in bronze that goes unpolished;
I might be living in constant fear
Or rebuilding a country demolished.

Surely, “Greater love hath no man than this,
That he lay down his life for his friends.”
For they fought for freedom with gun and fist,
And prayed constantly for the fighting to end.

I serve now because of people like Lt. Francis A. Nolen,
Help me, God, to do my part;
Give me strength, speed and nerve,
But most of all, give me a thankful heart!



Inspired by a war memorial at Saratoga Springs, NY
(D1G Prototype Training - West Milton, NY February 1967)
Copyright # TXu001882466

Re: Bronze Letters

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:07 pm
by KellyJoeRay
WOW...MAN OH MAN...Roy Boy...That one moved me to tears shipmate...Definitely one of the best poems that I have ever read...Goes to the heart of a Patriot...Like a hot knife in butter...This is your best of the best for me so far...WOW...Stress will make one produce marvelous works...Huh? Thanks for sharing this one with The Brothers of the Phin...I bet I ain't the only one who gets teary eyed reading this one...All I can say is Roll Tide...

Re: Bronze Letters

Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:06 pm
by rmbowen
Thanks for the kind comments, Shipmate, It means a lot coming from a writer like you.

When we were on the 627, we knocked a hole in the "tide" a lot didn't we. Now... I agree... it is time for the TIDE to roll all the way to January 2015. ROLLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLLL!!!