Remembering the FallenMy thanks to Pam Paul, who handles the duties of the OCDP Web Page master and Listserv Publisher, for bringing this prayer to my attention when she published it as our OCDP Memorial Day message.
Memorial Day Prayer
Spirit of Life
whom we have called by many names
in thanksgiving and in anguish—
Bless the poets and those who mourn
Send peace for the soldiers who did not make the wars
but whose lives were consumed by them
Let strong trees grow above graves far from home
Breathe through the arms of their branches
The earth will swallow your tears while the dead sing
“No more, never again, remember me.”
For the wounded ones, and those who received them back,
let there be someone ready when the memories come
when the scars pull and the buried metal moves
and forgiveness for those of us who were not there
for our ignorance.
And in us, veterans in a forest of a thousand fallen promises,
let new leaves of protest grow on our stumps.
Give us courage to answer the cry of humanity’s pain
And with our bare hands, out of full hearts,
with all our intelligence
let us create the peace.
Author: Barbara J. Pescan
Source: Morning Watch - Skinner House Books 1999
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