Gold Star Marine Mom Poem
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Do you know my Sadness? Can you see my pain?
Life that is new everyday; Now, never the same.
You have seen me sad…and yet you are too,
You can sense my hurt, but what can you do?
You look at me and expect me to go on…Yet, I never will.
You want me to act like nothing’s wrong …But, my spirit is ill.
To go through what I have, for some, is nothing new.
You might understand…if it happened to you.
A day, a week, a month goes by, or even more.
I wish I could go back to how it was before.
Before a part of me was gone, for reasons both good and bad.
Are you sure you understand why I am so sad?
Did you know my son? Were you there when I heard the news?
Keep to yourself the reasons and all your views.
These are not new to me…and I know life goes on.
Don’t patronize with some goodwill notion of how I must be strong.
I hurt for reasons both good and bad; Take a moment to see.
I lost a friend, I lost a son, and so did my family.
He stepped up in service to us…and then he took the fall.
You have paid tribute to that and have placed his name upon a wall.
I thank you for remembering what he did…though… remember this,
Before his name was there, I held him tight, and I gave him a kiss.
I whispered “Go do what you must do, my son!”
“I will wait, right here, with open arms, the minute you are done.”
And now…I am looking to a heaven day for this to happen again.
So what were you trying to tell me….my friend?
So many thoughts I have had…they start over again each day.
Why him? Did he hurt? If he were here now …I know what he would say,
“Hey Mom, I’ll be alright…and so will you!”
“I will wait, right here, with open arms…Mom…Go do what you must do!”
And so, with each new day, that I must go over again from the start.
I try my best to do my part. (*)
To mention him and what he did.
To talk about the man he became, and to talk about my kid.
Ok…what were you trying to say? I am sorry I am so distant.
My little boy is gone…The one that was “heaven-sent”.
So, sit with me awhile…my friend, “While I tell you all about my son.”
Thank you for listening to me…and for honoring what he has done.
Thank you for your care and concern over these crazy, past two years.
And please know…I will never be the same…I can never stop the tears.
Honoring the American Gold Star Mother : “Mothers of Fallen Heroes; Honoring their Memory; and Supporting all of our U.S. Veterans.”
(*) My wife immediately shouldered her sorrow, and went to help put together overseas care packages …to go to our troops…during a local “Marine Mom’s” event…within weeks of losing her son. She has continued to represent him on many, many occasions in our area, across Texas, and in Washington, DC. Believe me when I say…Mothers would go into the trenches with their young ones if it was allowed! After becoming a Mother of one that has fallen…a distinction that no one wants…many Mothers continue to stay in the trenches for their child…in order to let the whole world know of the sacrifice made. A Mom never stops being a Mom…and we should never forget the sacrifice…ever…either!
Dedicated to my wife. Your proud Marine went to be with the Lord in Heaven. I know it has been very hard for you…you loved your son so much. I have seen what you’ve been through, and cried with you, even when I’m not with you. Love, Your husband. Poem dated: March 14, 2006
Thank You, Leroy!
SEMPER FI
Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
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Beautiful piece. Glad you wrote it.
Great tribute and a powerful one at that. You hit home with this one. Thanks for sharing :D
Beautiful poem
Thank you, bipolar girl...and to the other fine Hubbers that commented here: Frieda Babbley and Cris A. I am glad you liked this one...it is a reminder of a very sad time for my family...and one we still feel the ripples from to this day. Sincerely, MPM
As a Marine mom, this made me cry. Beautiful poem. Cannot begin to imagine, the hurt of losing a son. My prayers are with you and your family.
70sRok: Thank you...from a Marine Family to a Marine Mom. It is a tremendous loss to lose a son in War, as with all losses of any youny person. Our strength comes from knowing where he is now, what he volunteered to do, and what he was able to do so gallantly...But he is deeply missed...hour by hour. (And the Mom this Poem is about misses her son!) We will pray that God will be with your Marine. Semper Fi...and Thank you for commenting and reading this one, MPM.
This is very touching. Thank you for sharing.
peacenhim: Thank you for your comment and for reading this one about a "gold Star" Mom.
Very sweet. http://hubpages.com/_1jlnpyoil2g4b/hub/thebeauty
zzron: And...Very True!
Hi Manly,
This poem was both poignant and incredibly touching to the heart. I felt the pain of your wife, his mother throughout the verses and yours as well at the loss of your dear son, who went to fight in the war. It was just as hard for you to lose your son, but you have paid such a lovely tribute to your son on her behalf and this is a truly beautiful thought to do this. Mother's do get close to their sons, especially when they go to fight in another country for a cause that usually has nothing to do whatsoever with Australia. This is both a heroic and selfless act of your son, and the fact that he lost his own life in the time that he was fighting shows he went there knowing that there was always a chance he would not be returning home again.He knew this, and yet he was prepared to do this regardless, this is what you can hold him in high regard for and remember him for the brave and courageous person that he was. God Bless BB
BeautyBabe: Thank you for this most excellent comment...on a very, very difficult poem to read through with out bringing this horrible point...in time...back to life. I know that you captured all the points that I tried to make with this one...and I thank you for making these notable points. Obviously...a nice person...as yourself...is in tune with the various feelings that folks go through...after going through something traumatic...like this. But...when it is all said and done...no matter how much it hurts to see my step-son, Leroy Sandoval....gone...and how much he is missed...all the time...My family still has an extreme amount of pride for what he decided to do...and what he was able to do. Thank you for your comment...and for reading this one on a "Gold Star Mom"...Humble Regards, MPM
So deeply felt, very well written piece - thank you for sharing..
Moulik Mistry: Thank you for this comment...about this very, very real and true piece...and thank you for reading it.
You know i have seen so many mom's in pains over d loose of a child in different circumstances but the worst so far is the unstoppable tears from a heart that she adored so much.You see, i met Stacey online and we became very good friends,she told me that she was a marine and we planned to meet sometime in my vacation but it never happened.I was then opportune to meet her family sometime in 2009 but to my greatest surprise,the mom knew about me,Stacey never told me that her family knows about us anyway she was killed in Iraq in 2006.
You have got a big and nice set up here and my heart goes to all the mothers of not just the fallen US marines but all fallen freedom fighters all over the world.
Rossimobis: Sorry to hear of the loss of your Marine friend, Stacey...Words are hard to put in place for such a great loss. Truly, she was a strong-willed and courageous person to have volunteered for service. She will not be forgotten ever by her Marine Corp brothers and sisters...ever. Yes...my heart goes out to all Mom's that lose a child...for any reason. It is hard to bear for anyone to lose a young one...but a Mom is never the same. I agree with you...my heart goes out to all the ones and their families...who have fallen in the name of freedom...whether one agrees with their actions are not...the sacrifice and the call of duty have still been performed by the one who give their all..."All" that they have..."All gave Some...Some gave All!" Thanks for reading and commenting on this, Rossimobis...Humble Regards, MPM
i think you are a blessed writer
white atlantic: Thank you for that...and for reading this one!
Very nice poem.
ed77burns: Thank you very much.
Hi Steve...Don't know how I missed this one...You know how I feel about Leroy...Beautiful tribute ...thank you for sharing this manlypoetryman poem...Semper Fi, my friend...Larry
maven101: Thank you for dropping by this one honoring a Gold Star Mom, my friend. As you know of our Marine...from our many conversations via text...you know that I had to include this one...in the real reality of behind the scenes to a Gold Star Mom. Truly, a distinction that no one wants...but always proud to stand up and honor what our Brave Marine has done. But, as being a "Marine for Always'...like yourself, Larry...you must certainly have met with a few Gold Star Moms. This is my wife's story for the few first crazy years after the fact (and the fact that he is forever missed). Oh, to have the Marine that you're praying for....Come Home! Semper Fi and God Bless, MPM
Thank you, Leroy!
Oh I am so sorry. What a beautiful peace but the tears won't stop. My heart breaks when I read about grieve such as this.
LadyFae: Thank you for commenting on this piece. I originally wrote this, obviously, as a personal piece for my wife. Sometimes a man's words can not do enough justice to a very bad circumstance. Yet, in Poetry form...it can take on a stronger meaning that will document this point in our lifes and last forever. That was what I was hoping for. A terrible point in all our families lifes...at a time when we were only trying to make it through each day.
Since that time...although still missing our Fallen Marine and hurting from our loss...I have seen 2 different communities: One that sees and knows what it means for someone to make the ultimate sacrifice and one that goes on about their business really never understanding the great loss that has just occurred. Both ways of thinking are OK...I used to belong to the latter.
This Poem was put on here so that people that think in the latter can begin to understand the effect of losing a brave volunteer service person (at a very young age)who gave their lives for our country. Thank you for your great comment...and for reading this one. Sorry for the lengthy explanation...but this whole matter is on my heart today (like many days) and I wanted to express it here. Not for sympathy...but for understanding of the big picture of what occurs behind the loss of a young service person. As for our family, we stand and always will stand with our Fallen Marine. As do every family I have met, in the same circumstance. Humble regards, MPM
Dear Manly, you have done an awesome job with this beautiful peace and it definately expresses what you wished to express. My heart goes out to you and all the families who had to go through and are still going through this kind of tragedy every day, even as I type these words. May we all find peace one day.
still teary eyed here manlypoetryman. I can't even begin to imagine your loss. I do imagine it would help to know that there was some "good" in the "bad." Thank you for sharing about your pain and loss, and for "going where no man has gone before."
LadyFae: Thank You! Appreciate all your words on this particular poem. MPM
Kimh039: Though a very sad and real poem...I often feel bad at the sadness that permeates from poems of this nature. It is true (what I said above to LadyFae) that I put this poem out into cyberspace to have people gain some insight into what goes on behind the media report of a Fallen Marine/Soldier/Seaman/Airman. But that is all it is intended to do. Truly wouldn't want anybody to feel as sad...as we have over such a horrible thing. War and the death of any young person...is among the most tragic news that we have to listen to on this Earth. I long for the day...when this is no longer the case! Thank you for including my little slogan in your comment: "Where no man has gone before"(in reference to "Manly" Poetry)...and thank you for this excellent comment...and for reading this one about a "Gold Star" Mom. Humblest regards, MPM
This is absolutely beautiful. I can't even imagine what you and your wife have gone through. Thank you so much for the sacrifice he made for all of us.
mdcgardner: Humbly...I thank you for what you said about my "step-son's" sacrifice. It is a hard loss to lose any young person. A Mother...A Step-Dad (or Dad)...A Sister...A Brother...Close Cousins...Aunts...and Uncles...Grandparents...Close Friends...All share in the dream of seeing their loved one and close friend return safely from a War. The reality is that many, many families and friends experience this kind of loss. There is a price to be paid for every engagement... and it begins with the "priceless" ones that we hold most dear. Both sides experience the tragedy of War...yet we still never learn from all the previous Wars...that this is a terrible price to pay. Maybe...by making note of this terrible loss...through my poems...folks can see a glimpse of the total loss...and total cost of War. And Maybe...it will slowly resonate that it is a horrible price to have to pay to have to go to War! I can hope that no family ever has to lose a young person...for any reason..and I can hope that they would especially not have to lose one to "War"! Thank you for your comment. Humblest regards...MPM
Robin H. 3 years ago
So sweet, and so true, love it. You put words on paper so good!!!