|
The Vacant Chair |
 |
|
 Why's
an empty chair in the corner?
Why're hearts filled so, with despair?
Did once set there a loving father,
In that lonely, vacant chair?
Father's gone now, but not forgotten,
He bravely answered his country's call?
Gone to fight with brave and true men,
Father from yon chair did fall.
Oh, how we shall truly, sorely miss him.
As overflowing hearts fill his vacant chair.
We shall always say prayers for him,
While we bid a fond farewell.
Perhaps a brother fought with honor...
For a country loved so dear
Striving right to defend with valor
We will miss him many a year.
Perhaps a favored son there proudly sitting,
Lingering in spirit now, caress him.
Forlorn and saddened hearts are crying
In his vacant chair, we miss him.
Our men left in faith their favorite chair,
Spent their life where cruel war rages.
Left loved ones in trepidation's despair,
Gone to fight the battle of the ages.
Oh, how we shall truly, sorely miss him.
As overflowing hearts fill his vacant chair.
We shall always say prayers for him,
While we bid a fond farewell.
Many years have passed that we've gathered
To honor father, brother, son,
Our joys now golden cords severed
Rivers of tears shed for our blessed one.
See his faith now still fill his vacant chair,
Where our fondest hopes in ruin lie.
Sadness sweeps our heartstrings care
For he was the apple of our eye.
Oh, how we shall truly, sorely miss him.
As overflowing hearts fill his vacant chair.
We shall always say prayers for him,
While we bid a fond farewell.
At our hearth so sad and lonely
All we have of our beloved one,
Sweet memories of our one and only
Who gave his all for heart and gun.
He left us in the strength of manhood's might,
Oh, how he made our bosom's swell.
He fought in the thickest, most dangerous fight.
That's how our noble hero fell.
Be ye not sad now, nor crestfallen,
For his life with courage and honor led.
Sleep eternal now our dearly fallen,
In your greening, tangled, jungle bed.
Oh, how we shall truly, sorely miss him.
As overflowing hearts fill his vacant chair.
We shall always say prayers for him,
While we bid a fond farewell.
Just sit with us now for we shall hold him.
Mingle with the tears we shed.
First in order of angels our manly Seraphim
In that lonely, vacant chair.
That empty chair tells their story
Standing tall for red, white and blue,
Of how they earned in battle wreaths of glory,
Father, brother, son... Oh how we miss you. |
By
Gary Jacobson
Copyright 2003
Listed
November 8, 2010 |
|
|
About
Author...
In 1966-67, Gary Jacobson served with B Co
2nd/7th 1st Air Cavalry in Vietnam as a combat infantryman and is the recipient of the Purple
Heart.
Gary, who resides in Idaho writes stories he
hopes are never forgotten, perhaps compelled by
a Vietnamese legend that says, "All poets are
full of silver threads that rise inside them as
the moon grows large." So Gary says he
writes because "It is that these silver
threads are words poking at me � I must let them
out. I must! I write for my brothers who cannot
bear to talk of what they've seen and to educate
those who haven't the foggiest idea about the
effect that the horrors of war have on
boys-next-door."
Visit Gary Jacobson's site for more information
It is illegal to
use this poem without the author's permission.
~~ Send your comments and/or use permission request to
Gary Jacobson. ~~ |
Poem Use Permission Request
USA Patriotism! cannot
provide use permission for a poem or an author's email address
if not listed below the poem. Only the author or a legal
representative can grant permission. Try a search engine to find the
author's contact information for a use permission request or if
it is available for public use.
Note: Poems authored in the
1700s and 1800s can be used with reference to the author. |
Comment on this poem |
|
| | |
|
|
Family and Friends Poems | Poem Categories |
|
