If you have a poem, song lyrics or a short story and you would like to share it with the readers of The Statesman now is your chance. Email or mail us your submission and look. In Loving Memory of Aaron & Nick Cummings and Haley Hallmark

SOMEHOW

When the mountains tremble, And the whole earth quakes, When the sky turns black, and the bombs shake the ground, It's inside out, it's upside down. Things like this just shouldn't happen, They shouldn't happen at all. When the winds get high, And the flood waters rise, When a phone call comes And brings an unexpected goodbye . . . He was too young to die. Things like this just shouldn't happen; They shouldn't happen at all. It's all wrong, all wrong now. But it'll be all . . . All right, somehow. My God is hope, He's peace and life. In the darkness of loss, He is light. It's not over now. Everything you know is broken and shattered, Blown away by the storm. You never knew how much they really mattered. Until they were gone. And things like that just shouldn't happen, They shouldn't happen at all. It's all wrong, all wrong now. But it'll be all, all right, somehow. by Kara Rainwater

VETERAN FRIENDS OF MINE

The first I think of are my brothers, WWII, they were no different from others. Jim was just seventeen. The other brother was Man. Man followed General Patton in Europe; Jim fought in Japan. They went through Hell but wouldn't talk about it. Man got out but for Jim, civilian life would not fit. He went to fight in Korea and stayed for Viet Nam. No one could be prouder of their brothers than I am. Mr. Stewart was my World War I hero guy. He was shot and poisoned with gas but refused to die. He got out and loved to hunt and fish and farm his land. Always said it was better than digging in the French sand. Two old buddies survived the death march on Bataan. They were never the same but said they would do it again. Then there are all the buddies who served in Viet Nam. They got a raw deal from the protesters and Uncle Sam. Two of my young buddies served in the war in the Gulf. They changed from boys to men; didn't take any guff. Cliff was a Marine in Iraq and a crack-shot sniper. Colt was a tank commander and wounded twice by cowardly vipers. These heroes I've known and loved. For their sacrifices, I thank God above. As for the cowardly protesters, let them flee. My friends and others like them will keep America free. by Dwayne Garner