History Dies

History Dies

Every moment of everyday
history dies before our eyes
today Harry  Patch was laid to rest
but first the Great World War he did fight
in the trenches side-by-side
he fought for peace around the world
with comrades from home and from afar
just babes were they and battling babes
never speaking till old and gray
some taking secrets to the grave
the stories to tell will ne’er be heard
as history dies before our eyes
one more left from the Great World War
Cpl Buckles in the U.S. does abide
will his story err be heard?
coax him to tell, someone must
for when he dies none will be left
what happened long ago on ground far away
someone must record before the mind grows dark
if only to have a set of eyes ~ a pair of ears to record
treacherous, horrific moments from our past
posterity to teach and to school
we cannot know from way back then
except the mouth reports
tell the stories while still alive
lest history dies before our eyes

August 6, 2009