A Moment Too Late

Come hell or high water the line he marched toward To head off the charge that the foe would make He chastened himself, urged his tired feet forward Cruel sun with no mercy his uniform baked He saw them ahead, and he started to run Heart's chamber pounding, he stepped up his pace But footsteps unsure, his plan came undone Deep gashes and bruises covered his face I spied him a moment too late, I'm afraid Smoke cleared and he lay on the ground, so still The shots that had felled him whistled 'betrayed' The specter of death did my vision chill (Yet) one thing I'll recall forever that night Those lifeless eyes asked me if I was alright