The Sentinel

I stand alone under the glittering stars Miles away from civilization, roads and cars It could be snow, jungles or the desert sand But I am watchful, vigilant, with a gun in my hand Far away in the night, my little baby cries My wife looks alive but every second she dies Not knowing if I will return with gifts in a bag Or as a gift to my nation, in a body bag My eyes though alert belies a heart empty With occasional visions of my friends and family My ears strain to hear the cooing of my new born But even that doesn't deter me from doing my duty sworn My grit doesn't waver even when there's war around When the tranquility is broken by gunfire's sound I stand firm in my resolve to protect this nation Every animal, every tree, every citizen When peace is brokered, nature steps in Testing me, my mettle, my will to win I never leave behind even a dog stray My human values, beneath my uniform, on display I am told the nation resounds today with ungrateful talking Bad mouthing me on another power's bidding But these voices don't matter to the likes of me You may be a prodigal son, but you are family So make noise, rejoice, enjoy your liberty While I leave no stone unturned in protecting thee Till there's life in me I shall stand tall Ensuring that this nation will never fall In return I ask nothing; no awards, no glory No recognition, no remembrance, no reference in history My duty is to my motherland and her I shall protect My chest will be a wall to every bullet