Final Inspection

[USNAviator]

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The Marine stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.


‘Step forward now, Marine,


How shall I deal with you?


Have you always turned the other cheek?


To My Church have you been true?’



The Marine squared his shoulders and said,


‘No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.


Because those of us who carry weapons,


Can’t always be a saint.



I’ve had to work most Sundays,


And at times my talk was tough.


And sometimes I’ve been violent,


Because the world is awfully rough.



But, I never took a penny,


That wasn’t mine to keep…


Though I worked a lot of overtime,


When the bills got just too steep.



And I never passed a cry for help,


Though at times I shook with fear.


And sometimes, God, forgive me,


I’ve wept unmanly tears.



I know I don’t deserve a place,


Among the people here.


They never wanted me around,


Except to calm their fears



If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,


It needn’t be so grand.


I never expected or had too much,


But if you don’t, I’ll understand.



There was a silence all around the throne,


Where the saints had often trod.


As the Marine waited quietly,


For the judgment of his God.



‘Step forward now, you Marine,

Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,


You’ve borne your burdens well,

You’ve done your time in Hell.’

[hbharrison]

Thanks Commander, as I get to the end of this long road I find myself asking if I did it right. Did I do what I should have, did I hurt anyone along the way. Keep asking myself this every day in every way, did I do it right??

[rufus1]

My daughter wrote this out, put it in a frame and give it to me at Christmas. It sits over my fireplace. Thanks for posting it so all can see.