There seemed to come a moment
When hope at last was gone
When night was quickly falling
And I wouldn’t see the dawn
Surrounded by my brothers
I asked God for advice
What am I to do Lord
To save the others lives
It seemed there was no answer
Then I knew why I was there
They just needed love and comfort
In this time of dark despair
So to each I gave a blessing
Letting them know they were loved
And they were not forgotten
By the almighty God above
About the Poem – Heaven Touched the Waves
Heaven Touched the Waves is an inspirational poem about Lt. (Rev.) Thomas M. Conway US Navy. He was the chaplain on the USS Indianapolis when it went down on July 30, 1945. The Indianapolis was returning from a secret mission delivering components of the first atomic bomb when it was struck by Japanese torpedoes. The ship sank in 12 minutes with 300 on board. Originally it was thought that no SOS was sent because of the secret nature of their mission, but later investigations showed at least 3 stations received the call but did not act thinking it was a trap.
According to the official report, Father Conway was killed when the ship was struck by the torpedoes. Of the remaining 900 men that survived the initial attack, only 316 survived the dehydration, exposure and sharks. (You may know the story recounted by the fictional Captain Quinn in Jaws.) Many of the survivors described Father Conway comforting them, and praying with them, while they were in the water. I’d like to think Father Conway was with his men – even if the official report is true. Father Conway was finally awarded the Navy Cross in 2021.
Lt. (Rev.) Thomas M. Conway US Navy
USS Indianapolis July 30, 1945
Inspirational Poetry Books
Here are some of the books that are available from Robert Longley. I would recommend the Sacred Poem journals. Reading my earlier books (especially the ones for Military, Police and Firefighter’s families) cover to cover can be overwhelming. The poetry journals are designed to give you one poem per day while you journal about what might be going on in your life. There are specific journals for grief, success, and more.
Get inspirational poetry books by Robert Longley Here.
Inspirational Poetry Products
While I do signed poetry prints that are 11×14, that isn’t the size or product that all people want. Some just want a sympathy card, others may want a large canvas print, or maybe a coffee cup. There are limits to what I can customize with the options available so some products just don’t work. Please just ignore them, I know that that format doesn’t work. If you are looking for something specific, or would like to make something specific just let me know. I’m open to just about anything.
Get inspirational poetry products by Robert Longley here.
