Two Letters

The Letter

Danny was a quiet boy, not yet quite a man,
He had red hair, and freckles from his face to his hand,
As I reached him lying there in the sand,
Tears in his eyes, he said "Lt. Please hold my hand"

I knelt down beside him there in the mire,
He had been such a good boy, who was now a man,
He said "Lt. Could you please write my folks?"
Which of you could have refused this man named Dan?

He said, "Their names and address is in my pack,
My mom's name is Sarah and my dad's name is Jack."
I assured him I would write them, but he would be just fine,
Danny said, "No Lt. It is now my time."

Blood coming from both his ears,
I just couldn't hold back the tears,
Danny must have seen them for he said,
"Don't weep for me, Lt. I've had eighteen years."

The medic looked at me and shook his head,
He mouthed the words, “In five minutes he'll be dead.”
I couldn't help the pain that I felt.
I offered up a prayer there as I knelt.

“Lord, why did this have to happen to him?"
I talked to Danny till his vision grew dim.
He told me the story about his mom and dad although I didn't ask,
Then as he finished, he drew his last breath and his face grew the
color of ash.

I cried like a baby, and no one around could keep from doing the same,
For Sarah and Jack's son had died and Danny was his name.
I thought of my mom and dad, and how on the day I left my dad only
shook my hand,
But when I looked around as I got on the plane, my dad had turned his
back and was wiping his eyes with his handkerchief in his hand.

I want you to know I wrote that letter to Danny's mom and dad,
It was a difficult thing to do, and then I wrote one to my dad.
By the time I got home no sign of Sarah and Jack could be found,
You see after I wrote that letter, within six months they were also
Heaven bound.

You can believe this writing or you don't have to believe this man,
But I can tell you this Sarah and Jack had a MAN and his name was Dan.
©David R. Alexander
June 13, 2002

 

A Letter Never Written

Hello mom and dad,
I had time to write and I'm so glad.
Seems like we never have time to write,
Mostly what we do now is fight.

I sure wish I were home with you both right now,
But that isn't in the cards for me and my pals,
Yes, I got your letter a little over a week ago,
And be sure and tell dad not to shovel too much snow.

Aunt Susan sent me a letter about a week back;
You know how she always calls you guys Sarah and Jack.
She said, "Danny I bet those freckles are showing up over there."
And mostly she went on about how you were doing well and dad was just
fair.

I got your birthday card last week; arrived on my eighteenth birthday,
You should have heard the ribbing and what the guys had to say.
They are a great bunch of brothers, mom and dad,
Kinda like the ones I never had.

Mom, you and dad will be getting a letter in a day or so,
I asked my Lt. to write you and I know he will do so.
He's young like me mom and I heard him praying so I know he loves the
Lord also.
Mom, Dad I know you won't get this letter from the son that loves you
so.

I just had to find a way to tell you that I was killed today,
And it was no one's fault, it was just something that happened in the
fray.
I'll be waiting in heaven for both of you to see and to hold,
Take care of each other and don't cry for me – why, I'm eighteen years
old.

©David R. Alexander
July 25, 2002