Names On A Slab Of Stone
by: JP Leddy
My fingers reverently
ran along the grooves of letters
of names of natives etched on the
slab of stone , cold to the feel
forgotten by most of the world
A silent memorial to the living and dead
who were herded under bayonet ,
enslaved on building projects,
starved in concentration camps,
and heartlessly executed
These were my
grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles
my people …the Chamorros of Guam
Their bravery and their fortitude ,
mostly unknown
except for a slab of stone that sits on a small
island overlooking the sea…
I will remember
I will remember
I will remember
This poem has been submitted to the Monday Poetry Potluck – Buildings, Landmarks, Mounuments
Tasithoughts' Weblog 
Truly moving. And now I will remember as well:)
DW
Thank you, David. They deserve our memory.
JP
you have changed your blog template, love this one, so refreshing…
rich and knowledgeable piece.
the images are outstanding on its own values.
Thanks for linking,
xxx
Here is one of my entries, an award is attached, thanks for the support.
http://thursdaypoetsrallypoetry.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/my-sister-lives-too-far-away/
Ji,
As always, Thank you for your support and inspiration.
JP
very poignant piece of poetry. To be able “NOT” to repeat such things would be a tribute to those who sacrificed so much willingly or not.
Truly a touching piece of poetry.
Well said, Melissa.
JP
Truly a beautiful tribute, remembering those before…
Well written, well spaced with your photos of the slabs of stone. Nicely done.
Reflections,
They deserve our honor.
JP
A beautiful piece and so sad– sometimes we can only bear witness and you have done so well.
powerful..
Oh that’s wondeful, especially at this time of year coming up to remembrence sunday. You have done your family proud!
http://jessicasjapes.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/my-fortress/
Great ode to people who laid their lives.. and you have created a perfect imagery too… thanks for sharing…
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
A very beautiful and great tribute to the lost ones…
I love it so much 🙂
Moving, heartfelt piece, a great tribute to the dead to the dead. Beautiful, haunting–may we never forget the sacrifices so many have made.
Sad to think many more names are engraved on ‘slabs of stones’, forgetting what we have already lost. A heartfelt tribute.
A coincidence though, we have similar entries. 😀
http://wordsworthmillions.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/the-forgotten-monument/
Heartfelt and beautiful, JP.
Yes, we shall remember.
Appreciate the shared tribute to these heroes, Imagina.
JP
JP, I was moved by the emotions in this poem… it was a beautiful tribute to all that went unsung… they were (are) heroes that definitely deserve a salute! My humble thanks to you for this lovely poem…
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