Will you tap into the feeling behind this poem and leave your C/C?

Question

"Mommy, let's play taps!"
Her favorite game, their secret morse code.
"Not now, honey, you know I have this cake to bake for the party!"
She taps the sifter as the flour drifts down.

"Well, I'll go get my tap shoes and practice for Daddy."
"Great idea, sweetheart, he's gonna love your dance."
Suddenly, there's a tap, tap, tap at their door.
She looks out to see uniformed men and a parked government car.

When the bugle stopped playing,
she tapped her mother on the shoulder.
"Mommy, what's the name of that song?"
"They're playing Taps, my little one, in honor of Daddy."

The child, confused, watched the flag being folded
and knew that this was no game.

Answer 1

I'm late, as usual, and all the good stuff

has been said, so I'll just say this was

very moving.

Answer 2

So poignant Sue, and so the case in my family in our most recent loss of a young Marine.



I've written about it more than once, and find this to bring it back, but in some good too.



She stood held by mothers hand

too young to understand

C130, bay door came to the tarmac

all those in witness clad in arm bands black.

Uniformed men, startched

not like a parade they marched



rolled flag draped boxes



as she watched, faces around

all wore frowns

'Is daddy on that plane?

Her mother shed tears, in pain.



The child felt chilled, suddenly alone

"Is my daddy coming home?"



"He is here angel."



Sorry Sue, a cheesy piece, for a horrific event, but difficult for me.

Answer 3

Coming from the other side of the pond, I had to look up Taps. I googled it, as I did not understand its significance, although I guessed what it probably meant. Now I know for sure. Poignant piece of writing here Sue, Yes, so many children are the losers in war.

Answer 4

No one can fully understand the powerful emotion that Taps can invoke from deep within unless you have, in some way, experienced it first hand. By first hand, I mean having Taps play for a loved one while standing and reflecting in silence. It changes you...forever.



The child in your poem is now a member of this honor, be it unknowingly.

Answer 5

From the shoulders down - just goosebumps! In my eyes, the sting of tears. You do stuff to me, know that? And in the background the president is making a speech about the 'unbroken chain of men and women who have served this country.' We are hated throughout the world, we who love freedom and have gifted it to many. They forget the price it cost us. Still, I no longer support all that my country does, although the active and retired veterans will always have my love and support. (There are few exceptions, a few rotten apples, but such it is for anything wherein humans are participants.) Great pen this day, Sue.

Answer 6

And that is the absolute fact of war - the fatherless or motherless children. A cyclic thing that just keeps going round and round.

I was in the kitchen there with your words and into this cozy scene stepped that Grief.



On a technical note - striking how you carried us through the poem with the word taps.

The last line is appropriately solemn and sad.

Answer 7

I am totally drunk now as we speak....but my sister and I used to tap dance in a cellar once,upon plastic chips? I'm not sure what they were,but we would scatter them on the floor of our basement and frolic upon them. Oh,shades of M. Jackson,before he was even born!!! Then I got a TOY TRUMPET!! I could play TAPS on it.The saddest song in about 3 chords...still makes me cry....

Answer 8

good ending. leaves the next few hours and days up to the imagination. a poem from a child's point of view, written simply, powerfully. nicely done, ma.

Answer 9

very appropriate for veterans day. thanks for remembering dads, moms and children on a very solemn , but necessary event in a countrys history. the death of a hero, from a veteran who was lucky enough to have served with a few of said heros.