Forest Lawn Poems, Poems by Gerry Crinnin (2023)

ISBN 978-1-891272-14-1

The Valor Sector At Forest Lawn Cemetery

Coasting down a slight hill I saw them
buried in battalions. I parked the bike
and took off the helmet, waded right in
to the names. I laugh-cried to find
so many guys named Elmer, an old soldier
named Harry Quick. Head to toe, buried
close to each other, like in boot camp,
and stepping back, their graves
like dragons’ teeth, the final tank trap or
just enough room to lay behind and shoot,
pray.