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I Visited the Grave of Marine Michael D. Glover

by Vincent J. Tomeo (USA)

Memorial Day 2013 standing on Michael’s grave

A petite Irish-American lady got out of her car said,

“Were you his friend?”

“Did you know him?”

No, I said,

I am the poet who wrote a poem and placed it on his grave,

“Reflections on a Purple Heart”



“What a handsome boy he was” she said

“He was such a good-looking boy, well-traveled, well loved, well educated”

She told the story how the military held his body for ten days

His face wrapped in white cloth like a mummy

How the casket had to be closed

What does one say to a mother standing on her son’s grave?



Tears rolled down her face

What can one say to a mother who lost a child?

I thought I would cry

I thought my knees would cave in

I felt my heart ripping

I felt a heavy lump like a rock between my heart and my throat

What does one say to a mother standing on her son’s grave?



I lowered my head, saluted, ran my fingers across his name, said goodbye

“Thank you” she said, “for remembering”

I saw her drive away



How many more mothers must lose a child?

What does one say to a mother who lost a child?


Category 2 (Best Over All)

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