The Distance Between Shores

[couchgrouch]

The Distance Between ShoresGrampa sat down in his rocker,said it felt like restless water'neath his Destroyer back in '43when his dreams were often stranded,in the heart of the Atlanticas he kept watch on the midnight seawehn he paced that rolling deckhe pictured the Kansas farm he lovedbut the waves were endless, dark and deepand all he could think ofwas the distance between shoresis the hardest to crossbut there must be honor in waror all would be lostto the distance between shoresthe stars seemed like floating islands,and then with a deadly silencea submarine slipped from the wavesGrampa's ship pulled hard to starboard,but heaven was their only harborcos that Destroyer couldn't be savedbut before their boat went downthey fired off one of their owna dozen men made it to a boatbut the rest of them went homeand the distance between shoresis the hardest to crossbut there must be courage in waror all would be lostto the distance between shoresthat night was filled withprayers and screams and smokewhen they heard strange voices,they made tough choicesand pulled them on their boatwell, Grampa stopped rockin'and sat a minute or twohe said sails are the only flagsthat the sea salutesand the distance between shoresis the hardest to crossbut there must be honor in waror all would be lostto the distance between shores(c)2004 Robert George