“The Wall” by Tim Murphy

On a drizzly D.C. morning, in the middle of July,

My brother brought me downtown to the Mall;

Past the watchful eyes of Lincoln, ‘neath a weeping summer sky,

We crossed the street to the little green and visited The Wall.

I remember I was nervous then, I guess a little scared,

‘Cause I wasn’t sure how I’d react at all.

To see the names of the servicemen who’d been recorded there:

Who’d heard the final roll call and assembled at The Wall.

The Wall is many granite sections, solid, cool and black,

A visitor may pause to touch a name.

It just seems that in the dark reflections hands are reachin' back,

As if to greet and touch and hold the hands of those who came.

Someone might stoop to leave a rose, a letter, or a poem;

A message to a young man loved and lost,

To show they still remember those who never made it home:

Who built The Wall so long and tall, and paid the bitter cost.

And every name’s a father or a husband or a son,

Or a daughter or a brother or a cousin to someone;

Or a name might be a classmate or a friend you may recall:

There’s nearly sixty thousand fallen names still waiting at The Wall.

As I watched the lines of people that walked by in slow parade,

I read a different story in each face;

And I couldn’t help but wonder at this pilgrimage we’d made,

And what common bond, if any, might have brought us to this place.

There were tourists, and the curious, and some veterans who came,

Still others who sought an answer to it all;

But the only thing I’m sure of is: we left not quite the same,

With our memories alive and well, and waiting at The Wall.

 There's Nearly 60,000 fallen name still waiting at The Wall.....

submitted on September 9, 2006 10:18 AM EDT
Name:	Tim Murphy
Email Address:	m.ptmurphy@verizon.net
Web site URL:	www.seisiun.com
Comments:	Welcome home... I was surprised (and pleased) to find the lyrics to my song 'The Wall' featured on your wonderful site... I think yours is one of the most comprehensive and all-encompassing VN Veterans web-sites I've ever come across... Congratulations and continued success in 'keeping the Fires lit'... I served in RVN with the 4th Inf Div many lifetimes ago ('68 & '69), and have been down to visit my Buddies at The Wall fairly often over the years... I was invited to perform my song there for the 20th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial...(Easily one of the most unforgettable moments of my life)... Please accept my sincere and respectful Salute to all of you... God Bless, and again: Welcome Home ! Murph
How did you hear about this site?	Surfed in...
Are you a former Charlie Company member?	Bravo Company - 1/12 INF; 4th INF DIV