A Vow To A Fallen Soldier

In memory of of the Chayalim of the IDF whose lives were prematurely snuffed out when they still had so much living to do.

I stand by your grave, suddenly your new home.
Your name engraved on a hard grey stone,
Your permanent “residence “ is under the ground,
In a place that is silent, devoid of all sound.

Abruptly cut off from the music and light,
You were denied the future that was your birthright.
What you would have accomplished will never be known.
The seeds you would have planted will never be sown.

But you WILL live on.

You will live through my body, my mind, my heart,
Intertwined with my soul – you will never depart.
You will be in my moments, my actions, my “now.”
My comrade, my brother – this I do vow.

My eyes will be your eyes,
You will hear through my ears,
Experiencing my triumphs,
As well as my fears.

As I walk on the beach, the sun warming my face,
You will bask in the heat, far from your cold place.
And as a rainbow of flowers dazzle my eyes in the park,
You will bask in the colors, freed from the dark.

As I gather with our friends at an outdoor café,
Sharing the details of our “ day to day,”
You will be there with me as we eat and drink,
For my thoughts will connect us, my feelings – our link.

When I step from my chuppah, my kallah at my side,
You will be a part of our reality, never cast aside,
For through me you will live, our spirits as one,
Until that day when my own life is done.

When I sit with my child, the one with your name,
You will be there as we set up our game,
And as we sing at the table, the candles aglow,
Through our joined voices, yours will flow.

You will live through my body, my mind, my heart.
For the rest of my life, we will never be apart.
For you will exist within me – in my today, my now.
My comrade, my brother – this I do vow.