A POEM

I was pulling up some information on the Internet today and stumbled upon a war poem which I found particularly moving.

I stood among the graves today and swept the scene with sight.

And the corps of men who lay beneath looked up to say good night.

The thunder still, the battle done, the fray has passed them by;

And as they rest forever more, they must be asking, ‘Why?’

As a veteran, I was surprised that I had never heard this poem before, given how poignant its message is to those of us who were called to war. The author of this poem was a man who served in Italy during World War II. He penned the poem as he walked up a hillside to a graveyard filled with American flags.

The man was Johnny Most.

To many of you, that name may not register. But, anyone who lived in the Boston area or is a basketball fan knows Johnny Most. He was a sports announcer and the voice of the Boston Celtics for many years.

And an unknown poet.

Readers, enjoy your day.