Unresolved

Laying in fear, clear objectives blurred By confusion, noise all around Sand, I feel each grain against my face Dog trembling against me, head buried under my arm Her body jumps with each round fired The smell of sulphur, heat of barrel close to my skin One next to us still, silent, dead I know Metallic smell, blood, maybe me next, maybe not Shouting, seeking where from, then quiet, waiting, sudden silence Heavy breaths from around, hearts racing, adrenaline Daring a glance at the rocks, the scrub, seeking knowledge The body alongside jolts, the crack follows Dog burrows deeper, a low whine I feel joy then guilt, a fallen friend protects me even still Then anger, revenge, hate of this, I seek answer But nothing comes, this loss for what? A stupid piece of land in a place I do not belong My responsibility is clear, so I hide all of this inside me and gather wit We access, regroup, move forward, overcome both angst and mission And yet, there behind, awaiting our collection Lay few friends, silent, lost, needing us Gone from our forged family, torn from us A phrase comes to mind, live by the sword, die by the sword Easy to say but stupid words if this sharp blade takes your life And so, we walk back, the least we can do, silent, mourning I have mixed feelings of loss, love, anger, futility Completely unresolved Jan 2022