Orphaned as a baby
They said I was little more than skin and bones
The ladies at the orphanage named me
They called me Abraham Jones
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They always treated us fair
But some how I grew up feeling cheated
I always longed to be part of a family
Some place where I was needed
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My whole life I felt tied down
That small town was all I'd ever seen
Finally I ran off and joined the army
I had just turned fifteen
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I lied about my age
But to my surprise they swore me in
Even though we were at war
It was the happiest I'd ever been
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I was given a uniform and gun
They fed us twice a day
Assigned to the infantry
I was soon drawing a soldiers pay
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At long last I felt I had a family
I knew my decision wasn't wrong
For almost a year I was happy
But it was a joy that wouldn't last long
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The war wasn't going well
The enemy pushed us back at every turn
The old veterans didn't show it
But you could sense their worry and concern
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Our enemy now numbered in the thousands
They used every type of bomb and gun
Before we could make camp and rest
They would again have us on the run
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We fought them every step
But when that final battle came
It felt almost like a blessing
Just to end that deadly game.
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I was wounded in that battle
An explosion had almost left me dead
I woke up three days later
A prisoner in an army hospital bed
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The doctor told me I almost died
A part of me wished I had
I'd heard stories about the enemy
How they treated their prisoners bad
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I expected to be tortured
And in the end, hanged or shot
My thoughts were full of dread
As I lay upon that cot
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Then two armed guards entered
Followed by a General and another man to his back
I figured he must be a preacher
He was an older man dressed in black
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He stopped and talked with each of the wounded
Perhaps a last chance to confess our sins
I thought our executions must be soon
Maybe he was asking for our next of kin
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When he came my way
He paused looking down at me
Asking how old are you son
I answered sixteen in spring is what I'll be
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He looked tall and lean
I could see he commanded respect
Yet his voice and manner were gentle
Not at all what I would expect
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To everyone's surprise
He pulled up a chair
The General looked impatient
But this man in black didn't seem to care
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I asked if we were going to be executed
He smiled and told me no
Saying when this war is finally over
I'm sure they'll let you go
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I had heard they kill their prisoners
He told me someone lied
Saying it was all war propaganda
We've heard the same thing about your side
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For the next half an hour
We talked about everything but the war
He even told me about his younger days
Back when he used to work in a store
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We even talked about fishing
He said he hadn't been fishing since moving into town
I told him to come visit me after the war
I know a place with the biggest catfish around
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I might just do that, he said
It would be a change to relax as I please
For those precious minutes we forgot about the war
He had a way of putting people at ease
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He said if people could just relax and talk
Maybe friendship and trust would grow
Then with a glance at his pocket watch
It was time for him to go
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Before he left how ever
He asked, what's your name son
I told him Abraham Jones
He answered, the name's a good one
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When the doctor came back in
He said, isn't that man something
I replied yes but for a preacher
He doesn't do much bible thumping
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He laughed he's not a preacher
He's the most powerful man this side of the pearly gates
Reb that man is Abraham Lincoln
He's the President of the United States
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When the war did finally end
They let us go like Mr Lincoln said
Then we heard the shocking news
President Abraham Lincoln was dead
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The newspaper said he was shot from behind
And early the next morning he died
I didn't care what anyone thought
I sat down right there and cried
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I worked hard for the next ten years
Mr Lincoln's words had given me a goal
Eventually I became Mayor of my old town
Then I bought the land with that old fishing hole
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I soon turned that land into a public park
And if I encountered disputes I couldn't resolve
I had all parties meet at the fishing hole
It's amazing how fast their differences dissolved
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I think Mr Lincoln would have approved
I'm sorry he never made it here
But every now and then
I think I can feel his spirit near
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Mayor Abraham Jones might not be remembered
But in a way I feel I've left my mark
In honor of the greatest man I've ever met
I named that southern fishing hole "Lincoln Park".
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Robert PledgerŠ
4/11/2010
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