Uncle Sam's Last Words.

[Philosoraptor]

I'm still a bit shaken after the experience. On my way home the other night I came across a bad accident, I was the first on the scene apparently, and pulled over at the sight of the black 1947 Packard Clipper, smashed up like a tin can, and an odd looking old man laying on the road beside it, bleeding badly.

I ran up to the man and recognized him instantly, it was Uncle Sam, and at first glance, I knew he was a goner. I gave him some bottled water and the look of gratitude was deeply touching, and he asked me through tears, "How goes the union"? I figured he was delirious and in shock and I assured him that I'd called an ambulance and it would be here any minute.

"How goes the union?", he implored, louder this time, and I calmed him as best I could and lied to him and said, the union is fine, just fine, don't worry.

"What happened Sam"? I asked, and he said, "A truck hit me, didn't even slow down, crazy driver looked like a damned ape, and a fat snarling bald man beside him, the truck said War on Terror Inc.".

He relaxed a bit, then he looked into my eyes and implored, "Tell them I loved them". "Who"? I asked. "All my nieces and nephews, the old ones and the babies, the soldiers and the citizens, tell em' I love em' all, deeply and sincerely and eternally, always and forever, unconditionally". I said I'd tell them, just as he wished.

Then it was over, no sooner than he had spoken his last words, he layed back, and on his face that look of peace and rest confirmed it. I was shaken, and as the sirens grew louder and louder, I just left the scene of the accident.

I hated lying to the dying man like that, but I didn't want him to die knowing that the union isn't sound at all, but subverted totally in fact. I didn't have the heart to tell him. And I also lied when I promised I'd tell his nieces and nephews he loved them, because I know that they'd forgotten about him ages ago, and wouldn't know who I was talking about if I did tell them.

Now I wish it hadn't been me happening on the scene of the accident, I wish it had been someone better qualified to deliver his last message. Last messages to wives and loved ones are the most important ones, the most heartfelt, and the summation of a person's life, if he's lucky enough to utter any in his last moments on Earth.

It's what I would say to any bystander who happened upon my dying moments, "tell my loved ones that I loved them".

[hootinholler]

1. K&R

Not much to add.

-Hoot

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Brought tears to my 'old' eyes.

[Jensen]

3. Me too...

and the never ending question WHY????:cry: Will it ever end this * war?

[Philosoraptor]

4. Kroak

[ArbustoBuster]

5. "How goes the Union?"

"Yes, Dan'l Webster's dead - or, at least, they buried him. But every time there's a thunder storm around Marshfield, they say you can hear his rolling voice in the hollows of the sky. And they say that if you go to his grave and speak loud and clear, "Dan'l Webster - Dan'l Webster!" the ground'll begin to shiver and the trees begin to shake. And after a while you'll hear a deep voice saying, "Neighbor, how stands the Union?" Then you better answer the Union stands as she stood, rock-bottomed and copper sheathed, one and indivisible, or he's liable to rear right out of the ground. At least, that's what I was told when I was a youngster."

--"The Devil and Daniel Webster", Stephen Vincent Benet

[ArbustoBuster]

6. I should have mentioned that this post means I liked your writing. :)

Very evocative.

[Philosoraptor]

8. Love that poem

[ComerPerro]

7. If you were a Republican, you would have stolen his wallet

[Philosoraptor]

9. kik