War Hero

I watched you leave in a state of grace
The pride and happiness upon your face
I watched you leave instilled with hope
Red, white, and blue wrapped around you like a rope
I watched you leave and I had faith
That no evil would be surrounding you like a wraith

You were gone, and there was this empty space
You were gone, and I couldn’t see your face
You were gone, and I’d never know what you went through
You were gone, and the colors turned to black and blue

I read your letters every other day
Never let on that demons surrounded you every which way
You had this pride that they tortured into you
So I never knew the hell you were going through

So you came home
Trudging  your y chromosome
So you came home
Your body a pressure dome
So you came home
And you had this syndrome

I watched you return
The pride in your eyes a-burn
I watched you return
Walking around, no concern
I watched you return
Your fragility, you had to relearn

Your panic around you like a noose
Don’t ever let this anxiety loose
I saw you look it straight in the eye
Told it to f**k off, goodbye
I’m not saying it was easy
The thought of the hell you went through makes me queasy
But the steel inside you has shone through
You were made brand new

And in my eyes you are a hero
I’d shout it to everyone high and low
And in my eyes you are a warrior
A strong, vicious, yet gentle soldier

I see your spirit is resilient
I see in you a durable perseverance
I see in you the light of evil flooded by God
I admit, Mike, I am awed