The Following Poetry is free for non-commercial use.

Also see our free Patriotic page.

Who'll Take Up The Sword?

What bold and daring wonders
are carved in a Knight's sky
By warriors who take up the
sword of righteousness
for freedom's like?
Or who's the better watch to keep
with sharper sword of Eagles
talons, eyes, and beak?
For woes the enemy or the prey
of metal-winged paladins
justice of this day!

CMSgt Chandler

Pilot's Delight

I soar the hallowed halls of Heaven's domain

On silver wings of sun reflected flames

To display a heart of Air Force blue

And test the metal of warriors true ...

As souls below longingly look to me

That through my skills all may walk free!

CMSgt Chandler

The Airman's Heart

The Airman's heart is fashioned with the will to rise over all others.

Its' indomitable will to win reaches ever higher, ever wider, and never gives up.

It is forged in the desire to obtain wings of  liberty that will soar above as a brilliant standard beyond the stars.

It takes and bridles no failure but sees and acts upon the challenge until success is achieved.

There is no cloud that will dim its' brightness or darkness that can hide its' light.

It accepts all tests, both great and small, and shelters them in love of freedom for all.

CMSgt Chandler

Spirit of the Chief

The heritage of my peoples land exists in three dimensions.
In my heart soars a silver-winged eagle who watches
the buffalo cross the plains and the wolf who howls
on the mountain top.
In my soul I feel the stars cross the winds...
reflected in the gentle waters waves...
as the sun warms my spirit.
I am free with knowledge of this ...
as my warriors defend this nation's dream.
And, if they do not return, I will dance and
beat the drum to their memory....
As my heart looks to the sky for their spirits...
As the eagle flies...
As the buffalo crosses the plains...
As the wolf howls on the mountain top.

CMSgt Chandler

A Mother’s Love

And a mother is the binding link to all it is.

CMSgt Chandler

I Serve

I serve to set the oppressed free

with knowledge of duty, honor, country.

My will is not for comfort, gain, or war

but to perform my best at home or on the foreign shore.

And what I do sees both night and day

while bombs, rockets, and bullets in sky display

make the difference so far distant

between dictator, ruler, and democracies way.

Here too, I will bear cold meals that rarely come,

sleep denied for comrades safety won

While burdens born on shoulders sore

I find the strength to carry more.

.

I do not see my sacrifice alone

For my team we'll all see each other home.

And when this battles' finally won

I look up and will be closer to God the Father, Spirit, and Son.

It is not honor, praise, or medals I seek

But just a freedom for all the weak

That when the children may grow old

They too will serve with the bold.

CMSgt Chandler

The Leader's Dream

Some look to the heavens

Some look to be seen

I look up and see the dream

CMSgt Chandler

The Soldier's Burden

The burden the soldier bears is the gift of blood and pain for freedom's gain.

Yet in all, the greatest burden is loss of precious life for liberty's call.

For when the soldier gives his life, the loss is burden for family, friends, and wife.

Or if he lives the burden is shoulder borne for all his time,

It never, no never mends, but calls forever on his mind.

America - Her Strength

America's strength is not her might

The men and women of her

military who'll fight day and night,

America's strength is not her diversity

Of race, creed, color, or beliefs

That make up the people's universality

America's strength is not its form of republic

or governmental leadership

of, for, and by the people

America's strength is not her wealth

of fruited plains, beauty,

diversity of nature, or even size

America's strength is her God

Whose awesome

Love remains with her

as long she remembers Him

with all her children.

CMSgt Chandler

Vigilance

Vigilance is the vision of watchfulness.

CMSgt Chandler

Come Shed A Tear

Come shed a tear with me

on a lonely foreign shore

Where men who charged an enemy

Charge no beaches ever more.

Come shed a tear with me

with fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers

for sacrifices of loved ones lost

and given for freedom's costs.

Come shed a tear with me

for wives, sons, husbands, and daughters

Who bear the separations

and loneliness sometimes at

eternity's length.

Come shed a tear with me

on Easter, Christmas, anniversaries

that will never come again

As separated they serve and sacrifice with no complaints to send.

Come shed a tear with me at walls filled with names

or memorials with eternal flames.

Come shed a tear with me

and never look back in shame

but always look to what it cost your freedom now you've gained.

Come shed a tear with me in veterans home long forgotten

Who'll never receive the same they've given

or even be remembered by stories never written.

Come shed a tear with me

as flags are raised and lowered half mast

Over fields of green dotted with

stones of white under flags staff.

Come shed a tear with me

and praise God for these chosen few

Who gave to me and even you

the right to enjoy liberties

more than other knew.

Come shed a tear with me

and say a prayer for those MIAs or POWs

For them, their families, and

comrades who gave for you.

Come shed a tear with me

for as long as man may fight

There go the heroes to do

the jobs in cold and lonely night.

And when you shed a tear with me

Never, No Never, Ever

forget the gift you have received

That through their selflessness

of love to you unknown

all of you can now be truly free.

Yes my friend, and my land,

Come and shed a tear with me

in memorial of the cost of liberty.

CMSgt Chandler

Spitfire's Wind

I carefully, with strength, pull steadily back upon the stick and feel the nose of my craft raise to heaven's blue

And as it's wheels raise above England's fields of green I look to rolling hills of farmland, houses, and colors of many hue

Engine noise adjusted even and true, and wind rush by my cockpit, heard as if in a dream, my thoughts now clear and still serene

I contemplate my destination, the track, my job, my family, and I thank God I am here in skies clean and pristine

For I will my metal wings for honor, valor, and duty to roll and pitch for that which I now go forth to do

At higher levels still, my eyes keep forward, onward fast and swift I'll go to keep a watch over you.