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During the Vietnam War, in a Life magazine, I viewed four pages picturing U.S. soldiers, entitled “One Week’s Dead.” We’ve endured many wars in the past and now again in Iraq. I wrote the following poem after viewing the faces of all those young, dead soldiers.
ONE WEEK’S DEAD
A Prayer
By Beverley Ainsworth
1969
Oh Dear God, just one week’s dead.
Names, faces, ages, all unknown to me,
And yet, Dear Heavenly Father,
What sadness there must be
In the hearts of the loved ones left
In the tears of shattered dreams
Far too dear a price to pay, it seems!
Look beyond these smiling faces
Set in frames on printed page.
See the toddler growing, reaching up in age.
First days in school, so big, so proud!
Not one foresaw the hovering shroud.
And now they’re gone. They’ve joined the dead.
Naught can be done. Naught can be said.
I, too, share the guilt of all mankind,
Yet, pray that peace on earth we’ll find.
But, first, each man must search himself and find himself in Thee.
Till then, the death of man in wars will be.
Oh, Father, we pray these men have found their way
To lasting peace with you this day.
And somehow let them know, Dear God,
Our way with heavy hearts we trod.
Comfort the grieving. Help them to bear the pain, the fears.
Give them the strength to span these lonely years.
Reach out to steady those who grope.
Those blindly clinging to love and hope.
And help us to earn a place with them:
Our ONE WEEK’S DEAD-Now Yours,
Amen
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