AN EAGLE SLEEPS

A Tribute to an American Hero:
U.S. Senator, John Sidney McCain III
August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018

by Dennis L. McHale, 2018

Amidst the sorrow of this day
Voices whispering unspoken rage
An eagle sleeps, a nation mourns
A great man falls, a legend born

He lent his hand but not in force
He taught us grace in free discourse
And so today, we weep and pray
An eagle sleeps, yet we hear him say:

Keep closed the passions of your heart
Now comes your due, I’ve played my part
Seal your lips and plant the seed
Trust in this great democracy

Keep closed the hatred in your eyes
Brothers, sisters, come now arise
Blind your vision from fools’ false verse
Resist absolutes, the patriot’s curse

Keep closed the shadows within your minds
Keep closed the mouths, let your words be kind
Reclaim a nation’s blood-won imminence
Mute the all this hateful verbal dissonance…

Waste not your youth upon the spoken word
Speak “you’re wrong, I’m right” we are then caught
We are called to serve and not to be heard
Resist the cancerous growth of ego’s thought

Join hands if only this day of my death
Fear not America’s fate, despite this dark, dark hour
You can bear this your burden, be not bereft
You’ve been blessed with freedom, man’s greatest power

It is in service of each other that democracy is tethered
Though my talons grip no longer, and silent beat my feathers
Don’t worry for yourself, imprisoned in doubt and agitation
I pass now this final hour the future hope of our great nation

 

Fight, My Brothers

Fight, my brothers, boys to men
And if you fall, to God ascend
Swear your oath on bended knee
Take up your march to victory

Do not fear to be laid low
Each hero has his story told
Arise my brothers, on lifted tide
Right this wrong – or else we die

For every decent thing within
Come we upon whose lives depend
Into the fray we march and send
The boldest and the best of them

Though weary, faint, and sore afraid
Through cold of morning, heat of day
We cannot take another way
Our path is clear, we’ve naught to say

Cross mountains high and valleys low
In starlight bathed and moonbeams glow
With every bone and sinew bowed
For every oath and debt we owe

Into the night and far beyond
Cross fiery fields, o’er foggy ponds
Our path is clear, so brothers bond
Take up your arms and carry on

Our time has come to march this road
For each of us must bear this load
To sacrifice what’s been bestowed
To ante up a measure owed

To live and die with equal grace
We must unite and hold this place
Conscious damned, I’ll plead my case
Prepare your foe to lay to waste

A new and evil day emerges
Full of hate and dreadful scourges
Sing loud and full your deathly dirges
Be stout of heart, your song, it purges

Ignore your fears, a devil’s charm
And when in doubt a haughty song
Lift up your eyes and carry on
Steadfast into the setting sun

Fight my brothers, with heads held high
Anything less and we all die
In battle pitch our freedom lies
We have no time to sympathize

With shoulders broad take up your arms
The threat before shall be disarmed
Quick-step into the fog of harm
So those we love may carry on

And do not wince or flee this place
A coward’s doubt is his disgrace
Be true to your brothers, stay this place
For yours is not to throw this race

Be brave. be sure and quick in pace
March beyond this arduous space
Laid low by arrows, bow and mace
Each death revealed upon your face

Though rivers tinged with blood may flow
Onward brothers, onward go
What lies ahead you cannot know
In brotherhood entrust your soul

And when the battle’s spent and won
We’ll lay to rest our bravest sons
Let their honor be widely known
For not all of them will make it home