Monument to an Unknown Soldier

[Leanne]

underneath the shadow of a rifle -- would you consider "a rifle's shadow"? Then you pick up some assonance between "shadow" and "parallel" in the next line, plus it's slightly less cumbersome
raised parallel to heaven,
I sit, frozen,
as ripples of wind
course past his bronze vest.

A name
is nowhere to be found -- excellent line break

so I got to wondering -- this line changes the tone very effectively, from the physical to the introspective
who deserved to be remembered
posing so unnaturally.

Was it a prize
to be forever stitched with a scowl,
a punishment
to know no day
without a trigger and barrel
in a palm that never fell? -- these last few lines are chilling

Lincoln has a chair to rest in,
Paul Revere a horse,

but this soldier
did just enough
to earn standing room -- these lines have a strange effect on me. Initially I think, "that's sad", then I get indignant because he's the representative of a lost generation and I wonder what sort of people would consider it "just enough", then I become angry at the Powers That Be who think of one man as exactly that, just a man to fill a space in the front line, and then I get all proud that this one man who meant so little to the establishment should earn eternity -- so yes, these are powerful lines

above an earth already filled
with memories, lying down,
hands clasped at the waist
like a scar;

the position
I frame myself in
whenever the mood strikes -- I'm not sure that "whenever" is any stronger than just "when" here
at night.

Very poignant, very thoughtful and obviously something that evokes mixed emotions Thanks very much for the read.