New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery Poem by James W. Spain

The visit was brief
though it felt like hours on

this cold bitter day
deep in the New England winter.

A moment to reflect in front of
hundreds of military gravestones

all identical
yet representing so many different souls.

I shivered from the cold wind
with my wool jacket damp

and thought of the many stories
buried with these restless souls.

Some perhaps quite simple while others
were simply quite unspeakable.

A solemn feeling of reverence came over me
as I tried for a brief moment to imagine

each and every sacrifice that was made
by these men and women before me.

The experience was moving and
it did touch my heart and my soul as I composed myself.

Sometimes the ultimate sacrifice must be felt
And not spoken….