"Memorial Day"
by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

At yesterday's dedication of the Folds of Honor cottage at Cross Timbers on Skiatook Lake, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., golf course designer and poet, read his poem "Memorial Day":

Upon his lonely bower
I set a flower
plucked as he
to die in glory
before its time.
He, a still memory of mine
remains living in my heart
before war cut us apart.

When they handed me a folded flag
the pipes began to play.
I turned away, turned my face away,
as my tears fell to sacred ground.

Looked up and there an eagle found
an angel eagle, flying high.
Our soldier's soul flew that day --
together they soared, then flew away.

Turn the earth on bended knee
to receive those who never bent
so you are not the living dead.
Let us rest in fields of poppies red.

The dew descends to bless the heads
of ghostly rows of moonlit stones.
They striped our virgin banner red
when for Liberty, they bled.

Our Flag snaps in Freedom's wind.
Salute our priceless chosen
known and unknown equally
who honored Liberty's endless call.
God Bless them one and all.

The text of this poem and three others by Jones may be found here.