Post by Nuala Bowtitt on Feb 23, 2007 22:44:43 GMT
THE PARADE
I have a heavy heart today
Where yesterday it flew
I'd travelled down the motorway
'Neath sunny skies of blue
I'd waited weeks to do this
And now I'd made a start
A song of joy was on my lips
The echo in my heart
I reached my destination with
A little time to spare
And as I drove around the bend
I had to stop and stare
For in this green and pleasant land
Surrounded by a wood
A building of true majesty
In golden splendour stood
It glistened in the morning sun
Within this place of peace
The only sound to break the hush ~
The honking of the geese
The Military Academy
At Sandhurst was the place
I'd come to watch my son pass out
And a smile was on my face
On entering the building
I looked around in awe
The beautiful stained glass windows
The ages old stone floor
A tingle of excitement
Went racing through my blood
I'd stood beneath the portals
Where Sir Winston Churchill stood
I realised the time and to my seat
I had to run
I sat with camera in hand
And waited for my son
The Welsh Guards playing marches
Were first upon the square
Then came the lads and lasses
To breathe I didn't dare
The Company marched past me
I saw HIM in the crowd
This was my son, my 'baby boy'
And he'd made his mum SO proud
The ceremony over ~
It hadn't taken long
I walked across the parade ground
To find him in the throng
I scanned the many faces
But then, from out the swarms
A handsome man in uniform
Walked right into my arms
I held him close as he did me
We couldn't say a word
My heart so full of love and pride
At what had just occurred
Euphoria accompanied me
Upon the journey home
With pleasant thoughts of what I'd write
The next day in my poem
When I awoke this morning
I pondered on the fact
There's nothing now to stop my Paul
from going to Iraq
I know it is his chosen path
And soon we'll have to part
And that is why today I find
I have a heavy heart.