Edison Place, Peter Francisco Park, Newark, NJ 2010.wmv

Edison Place, Peter Francisco Park, 2010

On murky marsh of memory,
As far as eye can rightly see
A sad, slab stone in dying park;

It sits forlorn in Down Neck's square,
We've long forgotten why it's there,
Stands resolutely in the dark.

We in that war that makes no sense,
A list of names is written hence,
As loved ones mourn their heavy loss;

We ask "How shall we win this war"?
Not "What are we here fighting for?"
Can't bear the weight of moral cross.

No lessons learned-we've failed to ask,
We're not equiped for daunting task,
Of fighting lies and apathy.

And "peace with honor" Nixon said,
Without objection from the dead,
Whose names on slab we clearly see.

One name inscribed was Bill O'Shea,
Whose sisters heard the news that day,
The war had run its awful course.

Had claimed a life it does not own,
A cold inscription etched in stone,
Inflicted grief through foolish force.

In school I saw the sisters grief,
In tragic truth beyond belief,
Their cries cannot be fully heard;

Across from sleepy bus and train,
A palid slab will thus remain,
That final, frigid, silent word.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Viet Nam
• War
• Memorial
• Ironbound Section
• Newark NJ
• East Ward
• Killed In Action