War Memorial: Youthful Eyes; Elder's Vision Poem by Stephen Parker

Young generation ardor from sculpted hero borrows
Older generation, torpor to graft peaceful tomorrows

Can young eyes through steely sheath glimpse marrow
O'er from dried paint, the blood stains that do burrow
From pursed lips, do the painful strains bellow
O'er from silent gun, percussive waves billow

Youthful glint on glimmering memorial glows
From aged lens, vicarious tears solemnly flow
Lad's fawning beams on chivalric statute strow
Elder's sorrowful squints the mediated surface furrow
Young mind each, savory fold does swallow
Aged intellect each corroded line does follow
On gilded bust, youth's prating eyes wallow
Gaunt septuagenerian mourns core now hollow
Around girth, innocent lids embrace time's fleeting shadow
Experienced hearts scorn clones strung from future gallows

New hopes, dreams cover the base now fallow
New doubts, fears sweep sodded ground, now sallow