we lost you
asked you to do things
we wouldn't do ourselves
killing people
blowing things up
we lost you
i see it in your face
still so young but used up
wrung out
expended for whatever
we lost you
we can't get you back
sent you far far away and forgot
what it takes
if you ever came home
2 comments:
Such a painful poem, yet so true.
I saw a picture in the news, of a young man, he was sent to Iraq and in the course of his tour, he committed atrocities. Taking full responsibility for his actions, he says, "The only way to look at me, now, is as a monster."
I know the world is a dangerous place, and most soldiers are honorable, and do not commit atrocities. But it breaks my heart for these kids we send off, they are so young, they are our future -- in one way or another they get used up.
War leaves an indelible mark on them -- most kids get beyond the pain...others are mangled physically, mentally, spiritually. The old men who sent them have no qualms. Men like that never do.
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