Belleau Wood 2020
Softly winds whisper through trees,
echo.
Feel the dew, the light, the air,
walking parallel to trenches,
filled with dead, colored leaves.
A thousand white headstones on this dark forest floor,
they died, lay to rest.
This eerie peaceful place, where over a century,
a fierce battle fought.
Hand to hand combat, poison mustard gas,
through steel, lead, brass, they trundled on,
Saved France!
The US Marines were forever renowned,
Germany's daring quelled.
The beginning of the end.
Months later, an Armistice signed, 11/11/18.
We thought this was "the war to end all wars."
Here I am in Belleau Cemetery, Chateau-Thierry Sector,
the Aisne-Marne Offensive site.
And no one is here.
by Vincent J. Tomeo