THERE'S TEDDY BEARS 
AND HIGH SCHOOL RINGS 
AND OLD PHOTOGRAPHS 

THAT 
MAMAS BRING 
THE DADDIES 
WITH THEIR YOUNG BOYS 

PLAYIN' BALL 
THERE'S COMBAT BOOTS 
THAT HE USED TO WEAR 
WHEN HE WAS SENT 

OVER THERE 
THERE'S 
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES 
CARVED IN THE WALL 

THERE'S CIGARETTES 
AND THERE'S 
CANS OF BEER 
AND NOTES THAT SAY 

I MISS YOU DEAR 
AND CHILDREN 
WHO DON'T SAY 
ANYTHING AT ALL 

THERE'S PURPLE HEARTS 
AND PACKS OF GUM 
FATHERLESS DAUGHTERS 
AND FATHERLESS SONS 

AND THERE'S 
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES 
CARVED IN THE WALL 
THEY COME 

FROM ALL ACROSS 
THIS LAND 
IN PICKUP TRUCKS 
AND MINI VANS 

SEARCHIN' FOR A BOY 
FROM LONG AGO 
THEY SCAN THE WALL 
AND FIND HIS NAME 

THE TEARDROPS FALL 
LIKE POURING RAIN 
THEN SILENTLY 
THEY LEAVE A GIFT 

AND GO 
THERE'S STARS OF DAVID 
AND ROSARY BEADS 
AND CRUCIFIXION 

FIGURINES 
AND FLOWERS OF 
ALL COLORS 
LARGE AND SMALL 

THERE'S A BOY SCOUT 
BADGE 
AND A MERIT PIN 
LITTLE AMERICAN FLAGS 

WAVIN' IN THE WIND 
AND THERE'S 
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES 
CARVED IN THE WALL 

THERE'S 
FIFTY THOUSAND NAMES 
CARVED IN THE WALL