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The Memorial of a Brighton Hero

On an island
on the intersection of
Washington Street and Comm Ave
sits a large square
stone monument

It is gated off from
the rest of the world
with black cast iron fencing

Grass and flowers
grow all around it
two American flags
waving in the wind
next to it
on both sides

PFC Stanley N. Kaplan
engraved into the stone
along with other symbols
and epitaphs on it

Markings telling which unit
he served with:
Co. E 104th Infantry 26th Division
during the Second World War

Being born on
July 31, 1925
his life was cut short
when he was killed in action
October 11, 1944
In the country of France

Stanley N. Kaplan
unfortunately died at
the young age
of nineteen

Even though I never
knew the PFC
I am sure he was as
the epitath at the bottom
of his stone reads:
A good son
A good Boy Scout
A good soldier

Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Editing stage: 

Comments

I enjoyed this description and see the statue clearly, and am almost persuaded to believe that I am related to the soldier.
My father survived the first World War, took part at the age of 17, wow poor wee boy!
He never spoke of it except about the happy moments in it.
One sees the futility of war, and feels it, with your clearly expressed little poem.

Nordic cloud.

I came back to add that I think this the best memorial poem ever, it states the facts and we add the sentiments because we cannot help but do so. Powerfully simple, "more is less!"

"The image of yourself which you see in a mirror Is dead,
but the reflection of the moon on water, lives." Kenzan.

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