Above and Below
By: Meghan Coley
I took the city bus to the other side
of the island
away from beauteous beaches
and towards history
We walked through gates
onto a base
that has greatly changed
throughout the years
there wasn’t always
a gift shop
or market stocked with
ready made snacks
there wasn’t always
a theater
where we
sat and watched
a screen
show and tell us
about the day we
were there to
remember
There wasn’t always
a boat
to ferry people
across the short
expanse of water
to a giant
floating
memorial
I stepped foot
onto this memorial
Tears were pushing
at the back of
my eyes
Suddenly they were
flowing freely
as I walked above
thousands of men
in their watery graves
It’s strange to
be aware of how alive
you are
when you know
that the dead
float below you
That they aren’t
buried
properly
in marked graves
where family can leave
flowers
We stood at an edge
looked out towards
a smokestack
and prayed
Prayed for the souls
of those who had died
fighting valiantly
until the end
Refusing to abandon
their ship
Those men have
been prayed over
thousands and
thousands of
times
I know
But one more prayer
is still a prayer
One more prayer
is still honoring
I took the city bus to the other side
of the island
away from the beauteous beaches
and towards Pearl Harbor
I took the city bus to the other side
of the island
away from beauteous beaches
and towards history
We walked through gates
onto a base
that has greatly changed
throughout the years
there wasn’t always
a gift shop
or market stocked with
ready made snacks
there wasn’t always
a theater
where we
sat and watched
a screen
show and tell us
about the day we
were there to
remember
There wasn’t always
a boat
to ferry people
across the short
expanse of water
to a giant
floating
memorial
I stepped foot
onto this memorial
Tears were pushing
at the back of
my eyes
Suddenly they were
flowing freely
as I walked above
thousands of men
in their watery graves
It’s strange to
be aware of how alive
you are
when you know
that the dead
float below you
That they aren’t
buried
properly
in marked graves
where family can leave
flowers
We stood at an edge
looked out towards
a smokestack
and prayed
Prayed for the souls
of those who had died
fighting valiantly
until the end
Refusing to abandon
their ship
Those men have
been prayed over
thousands and
thousands of
times
I know
But one more prayer
is still a prayer
One more prayer
is still honoring
I took the city bus to the other side
of the island
away from the beauteous beaches
and towards Pearl Harbor
All Text Copyright (C) 2023 Meghan Coley
