Poem: warrior soldier uncle priest

warrior soldier uncle priest

02/23/19

(a twenty-one syllable salute to Col. (Ret.) Rev. George W. Alexander II)

Warrior

If eye were a warrior

would stomp you into heaven

if eye were south pacific

would beat my breast and haka

you fearlessly, purify

the listening air with boom

of bare old hands on djembe

“the warrior is coming

the warrior is returning.”

Soldier

If eye were a soldier

would flag you way up half mast

would twenty-one salute you

with rounds that explode into

white poppies and white lotus

blossoms that rain upon the

spit polish slow parade for

you. Your heart: way too big for

oak boxed folded Stars-n-stripes.

Uncle

If eye were your nephew eye

would remember you with your

family reunion bear

hug that brought me back

(again) from alone into

home. You, well rooted upon

this good green earth, reached out in

faith and love. You remembered

me (hiding in some corner).

Priest

If eye wanted to be a

true servant of all, eye would

grow up to be just like you.

You, a fount of joy, courage,

curiosity, and most

of all love, were fluent in

humanity. You were our

warrior, soldier, uncle,

priest, and Father to us all.