I lie in this bed,
That resembles a coffin.
Hearing sounds from the,
Box on the stand.
Glancing down at this mangled body,
Thinking I've given everything,
That was asked of me.
Yet, many gave the ultimate sacrifice,
They were the lucky ones.
I remember those days of yesteryear.
I remember my brother's and sisters,
No longer here as I see them,
Dying in my arms.
I pay tribute to the fallen,
As I continue to have nightmares at night.
I see a shadow come thru my door.
A smile I haven't seen for years.
More shadows, more faces and more smiles.
He tells me, "Come on Sarge,
It's time to go home."
I get up out of bed disappearing,
As if we were never there.
I hear the slight humming,
Of the Alarm in the distant.
Yet, all I see are my brothers and sisters,
At the end of the tunnel,
Waiting for me.
I hear, " Sarge, your Tour Of Duty is over.
Were going home."
Mending holes in time
Healing rifts in space
Moving always moving
Place to threatened place
Disasters averted
Mostly
Mistakes can prove
So very costly
Here an entity slips through
And is only just caught
Its unplanned birth
Could have brought to naught
Eons of planning
In that great scheme
Carefully monitored
From the Halls of Dreams
The Great Whales are moving
Singing as they glide
Through the Whole Cosmos
In their endless ride
Effortlessly waltzing
To the music of the spheres
Their eternal duets
So beautiful to hear
Concentration lapses
So very easy to make
In a nano second
A Catastrophic mistake
But the Watchers are watched
Gently eased back to plan
Observing observing observing
Through a duty span
Mending holes in time
Healing rifts in space
Moving always moving
Place to threatened place
A beginning of a new chapter is what we all looked forward to
With peace, a still mind and a soul that is brand new
Not giving it up to fate but knowing God has your back There is no more pressure or fear on the things you may lack
A new watch on your wrist to remind you I got your six There is no more stress over the things we needed to fix Our combat boots are to remind us of the steps we took We can continue with passion in our lives knowing we are off the hook
Just a few steps further, the smoke will settle and start to clear
You have not failed your brothers and sisters, there is no need to fear
We are the few that gave it all, I hold this proudly in my heart
You are a soldier, a warrior, a fighter... I knew that from the start
Remember my words when you feel it is coming to an end
No matter how close I came to breaking… I continue to bend
May your sleepless nights and nightmares become sweet dreams
After this I think we can agree, everything is not always what it seems
Keep the flag in your heart and the stars in your eyes
My brothers and sisters, your tour of duty is through Thank you for your service… from the Red, White & Blue!
In honor of Remembrance Day and those that serve.
Tour of Duty©
I awaken from a fitful sleep
One where slumber was not very deep
The night before after counting many a sheep
My eyes closed and they did meet
A dream was had that made me sneep
You and I were there in a jeep
As I mentioned another tour you said nary a peep
But in your eyes I capture “what the bleep”
We both know the long stay at an outkeep
The enemy would be nearby and they are prone to creep
The sacrifice again would require a big leap
Is this a mistake or am I being wheep
Once again into our love my duty does seep
For a promise I knew I could not keep
Is the price for going to war really this cheap
The returns not guaranteed and the climb out steep
Or maybe we need to stop and make a clean sweep
And throw our relationship onto the scrapheap
Hearing those words make us both weep
For a promise I knew I could not keep
Andreas Simic©