Entry for April 01, 2007
THE LAST RIDE
THE BIKER STOOD LOOKING OUT OVER THE CITY HED ONCE SERVED.THE WIND SLASHED AT HIS CHAPS AND TORE THROUGH HIS CRACKED LEATHER JACKET.NO FAMILY HAD HE KNOWN,AND MOST HIS FRIENDS HAD GONE BEFORE.HIS HARLEY SEEMED TO BELCH OUT IN A HEART BEATING SOUND,AS IT LAY THERE,FALLEN TO THE GROUND.
HE REMEMBERED THINGS SO LONG AGO PAST,AND A WEARY SMILE CROSSED HIS FACE,PROBABLY HIS LAST.HE THOUGHT OF THE GIRLS HED LEFT BEHIND AND OF THE ONE LOST HE COULD NEVER FIND.HIS BEST FRIENDS FACE CAME INTO HIS MIND,A GENTLE FRIEND BOTH HONEST AND KIND.
HE TOOK A SMOKE FROM INSIDE HIS COAT AND BROUGHT IT TO HIS PARCHED DRY LIPS.HE STRUCK A MATCH AND WATCHED ITS GLOW,THEN FROM HIS FINGER TIPS HE LET IT GO.VISSIONS FROM NAM CAME INTO HIS MIND,AND HIS MANY FRIENDS HED SEEN LEFT BEHIND.HE REMEMBERED THE DAY MEDALS WERE PINNED TO HIS CHEST,AND THE TRUETH THEY HID BEHIND THE REST,
AGAIN HE STRUCK ANOTHER MATCH,HE KNEW HE HAD TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PLAN HE HAD HATCHED.HE BROUGHT UP THE FIRE TO THE CIGARETTE IN HAND ,LIFE HAD BEEN CRUEL NOT AS PLANNED.AS HE DREW THE SMOKE DOWN DEEP IN HIS LUNGS,HE REMEMBERED THE FACES OF EACH OF HIS LOVED ONES.
HED MADE IT HOME FROM THAT LIVING HELL.HE REMEMBERED BURNING FLESH AND ITS SICKENING SMELL.THEN HE REMEMBERED THE DAY ,WHEN IT CAME HIS TURN TO DIE.THE DAY THAT AGENT ORANGE FELL FROM THE SKY.WAS TO HELP THEM AND MAKE THINGS MORE SAFE AND CLEAR,BUT IT COST OUR MEN THEIR LIVES FOR MANY A YEAR.
THE BIKER KNELT DOWN TO HIS BIKE ON THE GROUND,AND HE DEFTLY LIFT IT FROM THE GROUND.HE LOOKED AT THE INK DISPLAYED PROUDLY ON HIS ARM,SEMPERPHI,IT WOULD PROTECT HIM FROM HARM.HE BEGAN TO TWIST THE THROTTLE AT HAND,AND THE BIKE ROARED,ITS SOUND SO GRAND.WITH A QUICK RELEASE THE CLUTCH DID GRAB,AND HE TELLED OUT WHAT FUN THEYD HAD.
AS THE BIKE AND RIDER WENT OFF THE CLIFT,HIS MIND OF MEMORIES BEGAN TO DRIFT,THE LITTLE BOY THAT BECAME A MAN,THE SOLDIER WHO SERVED AS BEST HE CAN,
A MARKER ON HIS GRAVE NOW READS,"FOR MY BROTHER MY HEART DOES BLEED,HE DIED 38 YEARS AGO AND DIDNT EVEN KNOW"
THIS IS DEDICATED TO OUR VIET NAM VETS WHO CONTACTED AGENT ORANGE
AND HAVE CONTINUED TO ENDURE THE SUFFERINGS OF THAT BLASTED HELL.
THEY ARE FORGOTTEN AND THE SURVIVORS NOW OLD.BUT FOR THE VETS WHO SUFFER FROM AGENT ORANGE,THAT WAR STILL LIVES ON AND SO DOES THEIR PAIN.THEY BECOME CRIPPLED,CANCEROUSE,MINDLESS AND SO MUCH MORE.
IN THE DAYS NOW WHERE OUR BOYS COME HOME TO A HEROS WELCOME IF YOU LOOK INTO THE CROWD YOULL SEE THE OLD SOLDIER STILL SALUTING,STILL DYING
FOR A COUNTRY THEY LOVED.REMEMBER OUR VIETNAM VETS AS WELL WHEN YOU BEEM WITH PRIDE FOR THE VETS OF TODAY.
