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Posted on 2 by John Bailey
Hits: 119
Out of the Sun
The Arizona engulfed, December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor
Out of the sun they came
Birds of death blazened with red suns raining fiery havoc on Battleship Row.
One by one, ruthless planes dove, destroyed to their nation’s shame.
Thunderous explosions scattered fiery death on Sunday dawn’s glow.
Flames belched from hull of stricken Arizona, America’s pride,
Hicham Field pilots raced to planes to defend
Their birds crippled on ground by Zeros’ glide
Gunners in turrets on ships floundering filled skies with flack’s din.
In search of carriers, marauders could not find
Ruthlessly strafed and bombed leaving Pearl
In smoking ruin. Ships sunk, burning as raiders flew back into dawn’s Sun
The day of infamy had been ignited in the Zeros’ swirl.
The Attack Begins 8 AM December 7, 1941
As America listened a world away, somber FDR
Spoke of this day that will live in infamy.
America must never forget its Pearl Harbor Scar
When an unsuspecting America slept in complacency.
To the 2,403 perishing that day under merciless bombs
Hails of bullets, terror of torpedos out of nowhere
America must remember forces against our freedoms
Relentlessly work always to surprise with deadly bombs’ glare.
Vigilence is the price of freedom always to be defended
By dark forces in far off places we have offended.
Against those who would destroy our republic from within
The answer is not curtailing freedom at home rather it to champion.
The USS Arizona lies in Pearl’s waters, bleeding the lives
Of her men through the eerie eternal slick marking the rusting hulk.
Beneath Pearl’s waters, the blood of free people oozes from the shadowy bulk,
Bleeding forever, freedom’s spirit living forever in lost lives remembered.
She never rests.
Note: The Pearl Harbor attack started 81 years ago today 2 PM Eastern Standard Time. The aftermath is dramatically depicted at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm