A Poem about the Vietnam War Memorial

A Poem Written after Visiting the Vietnam War Memorial (April 16, 2009)

Stand and see the names,

silver on black,

they seem to sparkle,

seem to call to you.

Stand and touch the names,

bumpy, smooth, bumpy, smooth.

So many names in each row;

row by row they spill down the wall.

The black slabs stretch on forever, into the bright sky and beyond.

Stand and hear the names,

hear them laugh, cry, shout.

Hear the names fight for you, die for you.

Sense the names.

And let them come alive.