On Guard for Thee

I am a serving member of the Governor General's Foot Guards. Throughout my time with this Regiment, I have had the opportunity to take part in many different activities and training. Throughout my time-in so far, I have met some life long friends, and been exposed to amazing people.It is no surprise then, that while in service to their country, some of these amazing friends and CAF Members have been killed in the line of Duty.

The loss of Cpl Nathan Cirillo strikes deeply into the heart of all military servicemen and their families.  By all accounts Corporal Cirillo was truly a shining star among us. I consider myself lucky and honoured to wear the same uniform as him, and hope that those who knew him will continue to honour his memory and carry on his tradition of professionalism and honour. 

I could not sleep the other night, and images of Cpl Cirillo's beaming smile were foremost in my thoughts when I took to writing this poem to ease my mind.

The following poem is dedicated to Corporal Nathan Frank Cirillo, (23 Dec 1989 – 22 Oct 2014)

---- Corporal Kyle Garrett Crego, GGFG----

All see Me here, as I stand ready,

I see you there, my heart beats steady.
Many come, to wish me well,
Against those who come, to bring us hell.

I've come well dressed, to serve you proper,
I've suited up, I stand here somber.

The world is twisted, Yet I stand tall,
Canada will stand, even if I fall.
You may get me, yet I care not,
For more will join, and undo the damage you wrought.

For Canada is Proud, and we do not waiver.                                           
So cower down and hide; it works in our favour.   
Nothing can undo, what our people have built,
In a time not too far, you'll take our sword to the hilt.

Aground

By your side daily, little seemed amiss,
Now you've faded, morning mist,
Always I'd see you smile and laugh
Now it's me alone, with the aftermath

Forgive me, For I watched you run aground
You could have stopped in time,
but go now, and leave a final yell
A scream that drowns all sound,
As you run your life aground.

How could anyone help,
When you'd hidden all the signs.
Hidden deep down inside,
Those Hidden eyes that cried,
How could we expect to see,
What you fought so hard to hide?

You reached out from time to time,
We didn't see it for what it was
Don't think it was intentional,
No one understood your Hell, 

Do you know that we all cared?
That your pain with us was shared?
There's nothing left to say
You've made your ugly choice,
Your struggle left without a voice.

Gone now from all our lives.
I hope your memory stays true,
Your internal suffering has ended
but now we'll never again have You.

Tonight

I don't have any comments this time.


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She walks alone on this road Tonight,
People all around, yet still, she's alone Tonight
Feeling dark and lonesome inside she finds herself Tonight
You've ignored her simple needs again Tonight
She's done with this waiting, she's decided: it all ends Tonight.

Sunshine on her skin, she knows she'll feel no longer,
She's beaten, broken, with no way left to get stronger
Fear and desperation have plagued her every moment
They rotted her mind to it's core, their poison, Potent.

She's sorry to those she hurts Tonight,
She wishes she hadn't felt alone in that room of people Tonight
That was the last blow her mind could take Tonight
There was One who could have flown away with her Tonight,
But through ignorance he's denied her wings a safe flight, Tonight

Before the end, with the water running red, she wonders,
Will they think of me after what happens Tonight?
Heart beating out who she was and would be, while outside it thunders
Her savior is out there beyond the rain, but wont be by her side Tonight.

Understand that all she wanted was your love Tonight,
But other things You and the Universe had planned Tonight,
While you laugh and smile without a thought of her, you're clueless,
You should know that she thought about you to the end, to the very last beat, Tonight.



---
Kyle

Lost

I met a young Marine that was visiting Canada. I only had the chance to spend a few days around him, but quickly learned in that short amount of time that this guy would do anything for anyone, especially his girlfriend, Nicole.

I got to hear some good stories from his first tour in Iraq, and the Battle for Fallujah, which he was heavily involved in, and the place that would eventually claim his life.

I started this poem a long time ago, and didn't really come back to it until well after Sean died, when I was able to deal with it a little better, while I was stuck on CFB Meaford, Ontario.

I hope he would like it, although he did tease me a bit when he first learned that I sometimes write poetry.

I wrote this thinking about being overseas and having someone like Nicole back here in North America that was waiting, worrying for you everyday. He told me that the hardest part of being away from her was the worry that he would feel like he let her down by not coming back.

Sean

Born 6/02/1983

KIA 30/07/2007

Miss you buddy



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Before I ever joined this fight,
Before your worry kept you up at night,
I promised this; that I'd come home to you someday.

Dear gorgeous, don't you worry,
Even though my path is rocky,
I'll be coming home for you someday.

Sometimes I've felt that all is lost,
To live I've had such horrible barriers to cross,
But I promised: I'm coming home to you, Babe.

I sometimes wonder if you miss me,
I'm waiting until you can again kiss me
I miss the taste of those lips; so sweet.

Another day with too many losses, its getting rough
I'm not so sure anymore that I can be this tough
But don't worry, I still try to come home to you, Babe.

Forgive me, Darling, I think I've wasted your time;
For I think now that this turn to die is mine,
Tempting fate so long has left me nervous and unsure,

I'm no longer confident in my skill,
This lonely soldier so many seek to kill,
I'm so sorry:
know that I tried to come home to you, Babe.

KGC

Betty

I wrote this poem after my Grandmother passed away in June 2008.

'nuff said
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No words can ever express what you mean to me,
or begin to explain the pain inside that's so extreme,
I'll remember you always, and the lessons you taught,
and how you took the blame for trouble, wether it was you or not.

I know you loved me, and I'll never forget,
all the good times we had, and not one I'll regret.
Spilling cans at the store, or breaking windows at home,
all the movies and stories, I'll always have what you've shown.

You've left us now, though I know not by choice,
"I Love you so much" I still hear by your voice.
I'll try to be strong, though I know it's quite tough,
I'll be gentle with Zoe, and play not too rough.

I'll live like you said; one day at a time,
and try to forget your passing, it feels like quite a crime.
For such an adventurous woman, so happy with life,
A loving grandmother and mom, an especially great wife,
You were taken quite soon, and it hurts all the more,
My being's been shaken, right down to my core.

I know this poem is but words, and it won't bring you back,
but I feel like I owe a tribute, and with poems, I've a knack,

So i've written this small piece, hoping to make you proud,
and I love you and love you, and I'll shout it quite loud,

because when it all comes down to it, I've loved you so much,
and on everyone's life, you've had such an amazing and loving touch...

Those Who Were Brave

This poem is one of my favorites; I wrote it in about 4 minutes while at the Foo Fighters concert here in Ottawa a few years back. At the time, I had had a few drinks, and had received a News Alert on my blackberry that Canada had suffered more casualties in Afghanistan. I guess the combination of alcohol, Dave Grohl's dismal crooning (the song was 'Skin and Bones') and the realization that several families and Canada had just forever lost some great men combined to provide me with the right inspiration to pen this.

I have made some small edits over time, but the following is almost identical to what I threw down furiously that night while trying not to forget any of the lines.

1    Protecting the People, protecting their rights
2    We're calling you, Troops; come aid in this fight.
3    We need you to win, else all is lost.
4    We'll pay with your blood, But we'll further the Cause.

5    Come serve your time, for signing upon that line,
6    Come feel the shred, of the enemy's endless lead
7    Come here to die, yet through Death, Live

8    We'll all remember what you came to give.
9    And through Remembrance will the world learn Anew
10  What Hatred, Ignorance, and Evil Men can do.

11  And we'll praise you and rejoice, for the people are saved,
12  And we'll cry and we'll mourn, for Those Who Were Brave.