by Brian Francis
When the Pacific fleet at anchor lay
Softly in the harbors of paradise
Sailors were working or hard at play
Casting lots, tossing pay at the dice
Japan felt proud, a moment of greed
Causing them to make a mistake
When just before eight without word
Their intentions our strength to break
With the rising sun, they fell on the fleet
Barely able to muster their fight
The great gray ships floundered and sunk
Crippling America’s seaborne might
Anger and rage tore through the nation
The giant awakened, drew a great breath
“with the unbounding determination”
America rallied, mourning so much death
With the world on fire death’s sickle swung
The harvest was seen in the blood red tide
Dead men floating in the ocean’s embrace
Yet nothing could stop their national pride
In waves, they crashed upon the beach
And surged to win the high ground
Island after island they fought and won
Soldiers fallen and planes downed
And the battles at sea too many to count
Ships and souls, taken to their watery graves
Until at the door of Japan’s island nation
Measuring the cost lives lost lives saved
The giant had worked hard creating a weapon
Whose power had never before been seen
A bomb was created and delivered to Japan
In but a flash the scene was obscene
To the city that was, it brought total destruction
And yet another was ready to fall
Still prideful Japan not understanding the threat
Refused to concede or submit at all
another bomb brought death and destruction
The sun was born in the Japanese skies
Peace was sought submission complete
Resignation was seen in the enemy’s eyes
Copyright ©2020 Brian Francis
Wordsmith: At The Forge 