Pastor Brown

SUNLIGHT FILTERED THROUGH THE TREES
WHEN WE HEARD THE TRUMPET’S CALL
WE DRESSED OUR LINES, BEGAN TO PRAY
AS THE BOMBARDMENT BEGAN TO FALL

THE DRUMMERS BEGAN A QUICK CADENCE
AS WE EMERGED FROM THOSE TREES
FIFTEEN THOUSAND WERE MARCHING
AN AMAZING SIGHT SO IT SEEMED TO ME

BAYONETS GLEAMED IN THE SUNLIGHT
THE REGIMENTAL FLAGS WERE UNFURLED
OUR GOAL WAS ALMOST A MILE AWAY
DEADLY BARRAGE TOWARD IT WE HURLED

THE SUN WAS HOT AND OVERBEARING
AS WE STARTED UP THAT FATEFUL HILL
WHAT WE WERE ABOUT TO ENCOUNTER
WOULD TEST THE BRAVEST MAN’S WILL

AROUND US THE SHELLS WERE DEADLY
RIPPING GAPING HOLES IN OUR LINES
CARNAGE, SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE
IT WREAKED HAVOC UPON MY MIND

BULLETS FLEW IN AN ANGRY SWARM
SOUNDING LIKE A HIVE OF ANGRY BEES
MEN ALL AROUND ME WE DROPPING
AND I WONDERED WAS ONE FOR ME

AND THEN SOMETHING TO ME HAPPENED
AND TO THIS DAY I CAN’T EXPLAIN
I BEGAN TO SEE INTO ANOTHER REALM
UPON THAT HILL WE TRIED TO GAIN

BESIDE ME MARCHED OUR CHAPLAIN
OUR BELOVED PASTOR BROWN, HIS NAME
BIBLE CLUTCHED CLOSE TO HIS BREAST
UNWAVERING FAITH, ALWAYS THE SAME

ONE MOMENT HE WAS LOUDLY PRAYING
AND THE NEXT MOMENT HE DROPPED
A CRY OF ANGUISH WAS CLEARLY HEARD
AS OUR BELOVED PASTOR WAS STOPPED

FROM HIS BODY HIS SPIRIT AROSE
AND I COULD SEE IT AS PLAIN AS DAY
AMAZED, I STOPPED IN TOTAL AWE
AS TOWARD HEAVEN IT WENT IT’S WAY

OVERHEAD THERE WAS A GATHERING
A SOLEMN BUGLE WAS RALLYING TROOPS
THE RANKS WERE FILLING QUICKLY
IN THAT REBEL HEAVEN BOUND GROUP

I SAW OUR PASTOR BROWN TAKING ROLL
WITH THE ANGELS BY HIS SIDE
NO LONGER IN BUTTERNUT OR GRAY
ADORNED IN WHITE AS CHRIST’S BRIDE

THE BATTLE IS NOW FINALLY OVER
AND HOW I SURVIVED I DON’T KNOW
THE RALLY ABOVE IS COMPLETED
OVER GETTYSBURG DOWN BELOW

THEY MARCHED UNTIL OUT OF SIGHT
KEEPING STEP, ETERNAL DRUM BEAT
RISING, THEY WENT INTO THE SKY
TO REST AT THEIR SAVIOR’S FEET

Tuesday, June 21, 2022