Home » Poems » Jeff Kyser » These Are the Men

These Are the Men

These are the men who go off to war
They go overseas to an uncertain shore
It’s hard to recall what they’re fighting for 
But we’re all told we’re gonna need more
These are the men
These are the men

These are our men who conquer the land
With heads held high and motives so grand
It doesn’t take long; we don’t understand
Why it’s not working out as it was planned
These are our men
These are our men

These are our men who sail on the sea
Protecting the people like you and like me
It doesn’t take long before we agree
Right here at home is where they need to be 
These are our men
These are our men

These are our men who fly through the air
Incredible courage, where no one else dares
But after a while, we all start to care
Why they’re not here and why they’re over there
These are our men
These are our men

Most of these men are scarce more than boys
They should be at home playing with toys
Without a care, finding life’s joys 
Not the tip of the spear for politic’s ploys
These are our men
These are our men

When will this end, Lord? When will it cease?
This striving for war instead of for peace
The world is a hostage in need of release
And Satan’s dominion just seems to increase
These are our men
These are our men

Come, Maranatha, yes, come, Jesus, come!
This battle is over; You’ve already won
Deceiver defeated, he’s now on the run
Praise be to God: Father, Spirit, and Son
These are your men
These are your men

I will trust you, Lord, that you’re in control
You’re here in the weeping, You’re here to console
You oversee all, watching over my soul
In You all things fit, in You all things whole
This is Amen
This is Amen

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This is one that I read to myself in constant time, 4 beats per lines 1-4, 2 beats for lines 5-6

I keep changing the refrain. I think I like this best - move from impersonal to personal to realization that they are in the Lord's care, and finally, 'let it be so'. 

5 These are the boys (2x)
6 Seems to increase (2x)
7 Father and Spirit/Father and Son

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Gershon Wolf

Date: 2/28/2022 8:10:00 PM

Love the steady drumbeat you've provided, Jeff. Superb!... Interesting comment to consider from the current conflagration: A Russian-speaking Ukranian beheld the faces of Putin's soldiers and uttered forlornly, 'They look just like us!' ~ gw

Jeff Kyser
Date: 3/1/2022 4:45:00 AM

Yes, we'd be far better off if we viewed each other as possible brothers across the table at the great banquet rather than enemies and adversaries - thanks!

L Milton Hankins

Date: 2/28/2022 9:22:00 AM

This is a marvelous piece of writing, Jeff. I particularly liked the refrain. It flowed so nicely. I really enjoyed the first four stanzas the most before the refrain changed. Superb job!

Jeff Kyser
Date: 3/1/2022 4:44:00 AM

I like it better now too, glad I didn't refrain from doing so :-)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 2/28/2022 1:53:00 PM

I go with what you said here. I thought it would be better carrying through the refrain with the last change being fine, then. Nice work, Jeff.

Jeff Kyser
Date: 2/28/2022 9:26:00 AM

Thanks, Milt, I've only changed things 4-5 times. I've been wondering if I should have left "These are the men" all the way through to the last, "This is amen", with the obvious similar sound. It is always hard to know what's best.