Anthony W. Pahl OAM

Anthony is an Australian Vietnam Veteran who lives in Murray Bridge, South Australia. He is a poet and the Webmaster and Literary Editor of the IWVPA Website.

SILENT SENTINEL

Warriors have a secret language that resides within their minds,
etched deeply on their hearts and souls – impossible to define.
And only Warriors know the language that words cannot convey
so the language is never spoken, and will forever remain that way.

And it’s a language that can’t be written; even torture cannot tear
the key to this enigma from humanity laid bare.
Nor is it just a token; those who know would rather die
than to ever contradict it, refute it or deny.

The language is only learned amid Satan’s hellfire’s hearth.
Only those who’ve felt the fire will know of its true worth.
Even Satan does not know the words; they know he never will,
for the language contains no greed; it’s more a truth they feel.

The eyes of every Warrior are the key to silent words.
Every brother recognises it and in his heart he knows
that the ageless secret language that is written on the soul
is forged from blood and suffering and Satan’s awful toll.

A Warrior’s sense of duty for his brothers and his mates
is bound and borne untiringly atop turbulent seas of hate.
And even in the aftermath of the killing fields of war,
the ageless, unspoken language is still a Warrior’s law.

No one needs to tell or explain the bond so deeply felt
as together Warriors bear the scars and play the hands they’re dealt.
They seek each other’s wisdom while learning from mistakes;
thank God for that silent language and Warriors’ code of grace!

©Copyright September 19, 2000 by Anthony W. Pahl

Dear friends,

Toralf has developed Sepsis and is in critical condition. As you may know blood poisoning is a serious illness and Tor’s condition is considered life threatening. He is unconscious and is receiving respiratory aid. There is a 60% chance that he will not survive the next 24 hours.

Naturally we will be spending all our time at the hospital in the time to come, and it may be a while before you hear from either of us again.

Remember that your freedom comes at a price!

Thank you,

For Suzanne W,
Per Cod, loving brother
23 May 2002

Dear Suzanne,

My thoughts, prayers and the hopes of my heart and soul are with Tor in his need – and as a Brother-In-Arms, I extend my spirit to seek, support and reinforce his during his biggest battle.

I wrote the poem, Silent Sentinel” a couple of years ago, but it has never been made public – the time never seemed right. The time is now; I feel it. I dedicate this poem to Toralf: a Warrior, a Brother-In-Arms, a Hero, and a friend.

Tony
23 May 2002

Dear Anthony,

Suzanne will not be available on email for a while, but I’ll try to answer some of her mail for her.

I’ll start with an update on Tor’s condition. It has been almost 24 hours since the blood poisoning was diagnosed and treatment started. Because of the tests done last week it was known right away what bacteria we were up against and the correct antibiotics could be given right away. There has been no changes so far, he is still unconscious and still on life support. It is too early to expect any improvement anyway, so no news is good news in this case. Just thought you’d like to have an update even if there really isn’t anything new to report.

As for your poem it is absolutely fantastic! I will read it for Suzanne and Toralf when I get back. I don’t know if he’ll hear it, but he’ll hear it again when he gets better.

Thank you also for the kind words, thoughts and prayers. They are highly appreciated by us all.

Regards,
Per (Toralf’s brother)
23 May 2002

COMMANDO

He came into my life with the force of a tempest
He inundated my sense with “Words” laced with “Hope”
and introduced me to Per; in his words “To My Brother.”

Getting to know and understand Toralf was not a “Walk in the Park”
because his “Memories” were of terror and agony:
Terror at the surreal world of “Vampires”
and Agony and the loss of the comrades he called “Winter Phantoms”

He promised, and delivered, a happy “Island of Childhood”
and through it all, I learned that he was, indeed, the “Silent Sentinel”

Toralf was part of my life for less than five months…
He is part of my existence… for eternity.

I will miss his presence…
I shall regret the poems he was unable to write
But I shall always remember his written legacy…
and his life!

Go with God, my friend,
I shall meet you at the gates of Heaven
and we shall know one another.