THERE'S TEDDY BEARS
AND HIGH SCHOOL RINGS
AND OLD
PHOTOGRAPHS THAT
MAMAS BRING
THE DADDIES
WITH THEIR YOUNG BOYS
PLAYIN' BALL
THERE'S COMBAT BOOTS
THAT HE USED TO WEAR
WHEN HE WAS SENT
OVER THERE
THERE'S FIFTY
THOUSAND NAMES
CARVED IN THE WALL
THERE'S CIGARETTES
AND THERE'S
CANS OF BEER
AND NOTES THAT SAY
I MISS YOU DEAR
AND CHILDREN
WHO DON'T SAY
ANYTHING
AT ALL
THERE'S PURPLE HEARTS
AND PACKS OF GUM
FATHERLESS
DAUGHTERS AND
FATHERLESS SONS
AND THERE'S
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES
CARVED IN THE WALL
THEY COME FROM
ALL ACROSS THIS LAND
IN PICKUP TRUCKS
AND MINIVANS
SEARCHIN' FOR A BOY
FROM LONG AGO
THEY SCAN THE WALL
AND FIND HIS NAME
THE TEARDROPS FALL
LIKE POURIN' RAIN
THEN SILENTLY
THEY LEAVE A GIFT
AND GO
THERE'S STARS OF DAVID
AND ROSARY BEADS
AND CRUCIFIXION
FIGURINES
AND FLOWERS
OF ALL COLORS
LARGE AND SMALL
THERE'S A
BOY SCOUT BADGE
AND A MERIT PIN
LITTLE AMERICAN FLAGS
WAVING IN THE WIND
AND THERE'S
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES
CARVED IN THE WALL
THERE'S
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES
CARVED IN THE WALL