by Cpl. Robert L. Cook
Jan. 42~Sept. 45
I look across the lonely sand
Where once before
Upon this land
My brother Marines
In full array
Spent blood and tears
Upon the fray
And left before
The job was done.
They left because
The powers-that-be
Thought that this
Just might be
The last of trouble
From this man
Who held the power
In this land.
Little did they know
That he
Would scoff at rules
They set to be,
To hold him
In check and see
If he would abide
The laws
Of civility
And war no more.
So now we stand
In harm's way,
And once again
To him say:
Cease and desist
Your madness!
We will not stop
Our fierce attack
Until your gates
Are fully wrack.
We will not stop
At your front door,
We will not
Pull our punches.
Once this mighty
Force
Is let to go,
The wave of power
Will bury you.
We will not let you
Run and hide,
Our net will spread
Both far and wide.
And when you are
In our firm hands,
You will rue the day
You fought the tide.
The tide that
Stands for right,
Not wrong,
The tide that keeps
Our nation strong.
The tide that will
Defeat you.
So, warriors,
Keep the faith.
Stand firm before
The foe,
We know we have
The means,
So let's give them
A bloody good show!
* * *
About the author: Robert Cook served with Reg. Weapons Co.(2d-2d) from 1942~44, at Guadalcanal
and Tarawa, during a 33-month overseas tour.
