Why is it NaNoWriMo schedules never work as planned? My ideas for scheduled posts never made it off the page, I’ve only written 300 words of NaNoWriMo, and – to top it off – I’m feeling under the weather.
But today is Veterans’ Day. Last week, the school put on its biannual Veterans’ Day Program – this particular one held special significance for two reasons: I wrote the program and the school chose to honor Mr. Tom, a 97-year old WWII veteran who just so happens to be my grandfather (who isn’t really my grandfather – you know how those family friends work). This was the first time in years he felt well enough to get out of the house for an extended period of time – he still lives at home in the house he built with his own hands back in the 40s and 50s – and stayed for the entire program. You can watch the program here:
As usual, I’ve also selected a poem for Veterans’ Day:
Grass
by Carl Sandburg
Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work—
I am the grass; I cover all.
And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and passengers
ask the conductor:
What place is this?
Where are we now?
I am the grass.
Let me work.
And now, since school is out today, it’s time to play catch up on NaNoWriMo. Will I be able to write 16,500 words in one day? Probably not, but I’m sure going to try.
Running In My Head 
Terrific tribute, and Carl Sandburg made it even more special. Good luck on NaNo, you can do it!
If you need a buddy, I’m at PleasantStreet there
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I’ve never read this powerful poem of Sandburg’s. Thanks for including it in your post. Mr. Tom sounds like a wonderful “grandfather” and human being. I celebrate with you that he could come to your schools Veterans Day Remembrance.
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I only found the poem myself while writing the program. Such powerful words in a few short lines.
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