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The Final Liberty
By Helen L. Venneri
"Don't cry for me," the Sailor said,
"I may be gone, but I'm not dead"
I'm in the fluffy clouds above
I'm on the ocean that I love
I've sailed the seas for several years
gone through so many wars with fears
that maybe we'd be blown away
and may not live another day.
I've traveled 'round the world by sea
with Buddies by my side with glee.
We took in all that we could see
on many a rough-house liberty.
Where fights broke out, but none were hurt.
A broken nose a bloody shirt.
But back on board and safe on ship
We sat and bragged through a bloody lip.
And once again we'd hoist our sail
to another port, yet we'd never fail
to do the same thing once again.
just Sailor boys who would be men.
So try to understand I'm free!
from sickness, age and what would be,
My spirit's young and I am free!
I've gone on my Big Liberty
With all the ones gone on ahead
I'm free at last, so I'm not dead."
Editor's Note: Mrs. Venneri wrote this
poem in remembrance of her late husband,
a crewmember of USS James C. Owens (DD-776).
It was read at the ship's recent reunion.
This poem appeared in the March, 1998
edition of the Tin Can Sailor
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