Kaki

I still feel that short embrace Him turning for one last glance The look on our mother’s face Her knowing his fate of chance What is this cruel affair called war Who could give such credence To savage acts and laws ignored Stand by in silent grievance Where is this place “over there”? Where the young men have to go Why do we heed some foreign scare From a place that we don’t know Cast to battle as living pawns Just a number on a metal tag Hoping to live till a new day dawns Avoiding the fate of a body bag No stories come from those who fell Just from only those who lived Their memories of that living hell One sole and fragile life to give Now we know what’s over there Much more than there was before There are gravestones everywhere Rusted hulks left on their shore Scars brought back are hidden deep They last through all their years Comrades call them from their sleep To fight the nightmare’s fears Rest ye soldier someday somewhere With they that fell and stayed behind Go back to them we know you care Find that peace, that peace of mind