Like a mighty eagle he soared, High above in the blue, cloudless sky. Far below him the big guns roared! Dimly, it seemed, he could hear a battle cry. He thought of home and happiness, so far away, He lived his life again through those days of love. How happy they had been till that fateful day, When the call to war came from the powers above. Parting had been so sad, how they clung to each other. They kissed tenderly and he did softly sigh, "I'll always love you dear, there'll never be another." She answered, "Till you return, I'll stand by." And now, a youth in years but a man overnight, He dealt out death with a steady, sure hand. Someday he too would feel the grim reaper's might, And join his comrades in that eternal land. Like a bird of prey, he would dive to the kill— His guns flaming with certain sure death. Victories mounted, luck flew with him still, He vowed to fight to the finish with his dying breath. Then, the day came when he met his fate, Enemy bullets found their mark in the back of his head. As death dimmed his eyes, he thought of his mate, No more would he see her, tomorrow he'd be dead. Before his eyes her face appeared in the sky. Her misty, blue eyes and little turned-up nose, Her lips beckoned to him from on high— Like the summer's last lovely, drooping rose. With tears in his eyes he saw the picture fade, Death closes his eyes as the enemy sings At the picture the flaming plane made, For at last the eagle was folding his wings. |