Anthem


 Oh, say can you see, 
 by the cannon's bright flare,
 your dead friend's startled look 
 and the tracer light streaming?
 When the battle was joined, 
 far away 'cross the sea,
 a stray shot caught him there, 
 from the dark jungle steaming.

 He will not laugh again, 
 with that soft foolish grin,
 his life's blood's flowed away
 on a heartbeat so thin.
 Oh say, can you still see 
 the bright sparks of his eyes,
 the reflections of the fire
 flashing thru the dark skies?


                   JMH
                  11 Nov. 1996
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