THE FINAL INSPECTION

THE MARINE STOOD & FACED HIS GOD
WHICH MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS.
HE HOPED HIS SHOES WERE SHINING
JUST AS BRIGHTLY AS HIS BRASS.


"STEP FORWARD NOW ...
MARINE, HOW SHALL I DEAL WITH YOU ?
HAVE YOU ALWAYS TURNED THE OTHER CHEEK,
TO MY CHURCH HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE?"


THE MARINE SQUARED HIS SHOULDERS AND SAID,
" NO LORD, I GUESS I AIN'T.
BECAUSE THOSE OF US WHO CARRY GUNS
CAN'T ALWAYS BE A SAINT.


I'VE HAD TO WORK MOST SUNDAYS
AND AT TIMES MY TALK WAS TOUGH,
AND SOMETIMES I 'VE BEEN VIOLENT,
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS AWFULLY ROUGH.


BUT, I NEVER TOOK A PENNY
THAT WASN'T MINE TO KEEP....
THOUGH I WORKED A LOT OF OVERTIME
WHEN THE BILLS GOT JUST TOO STEEP


AND I NEVER PASSED A CRY FOR HELP
THOUGH AT TIMES I SHOOK WITH FEAR,
AND SOMETIMES, GOD.. FORGIVE ME,
I HAVE WEPT UNMANLY TEARS.


I KNOW I DON'T DESERVE
A PLACE AMONG THE PEOPLE HERE,
THEY NEVER WANTED ME AROUND
EXCEPT TO CALM THEIR FEARS.


IF YOU'VE A PLACE FOR ME HERE LORD,
IT NEEDN'T BE SO GRAND,
I NEVER EXPECTED OR HAD TOO MUCH,
AND IF YOU DON'T, I'LL UNDERSTAND."


THERE WAS A SILENCE ALL AROUND THE THRONE
WHERE THE SAINTS OFTEN TROD
AS THE MARINE WAITED QUIETLY,
FOR THE JUDGEMENT OF HIS GOD,


"STEP FORWARD NOW, MY MARINE,
YOU'VE BORNE YOUR BURDENS WELL.
WALK PEACEFULLY ON HEAVEN'S STREETS,
YOU'VE DONE YOUR TIME IN HELL"