Ten Thousand Men

( Saint Emma Military Academy)

From 1895 ten thousand men of color

marched off into the future
baring a standard emblazoned in their souls
they march proudly
to a rhythmic military drumroll
to a military cadence that is now long gone
marched from a flagship school they now brandish boldly..
ten thousand men
marched into the future prepared for the futures
onslaught
prepared with discipline and pride
having learned how to give and take orders
which in their young lives they very much
despised
ten thousand men wrapped eternally together
in esprit de corps

never having to ask why yet knowing exactly why..

they carry history on their shoulders into the future
with history giving the answers
and showing them the reason why
that the uneducated slowly and not so mysteriously
falter and die..
ten thousand men marched into the future
some boldly
some with a whisper some with a prayer
most all determined to be on the correct path
to somewhere
along the way to purposely extend a helping hand!

Clyde A. Wray
May 24, 2016
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