A Soldier's Psalm

My views of the volunteer soldier.

 

Peaceful measures bounding harshly through

These sworn soldiers maneuvering, falling, standing to.

Days go by, during these dirty battles of peace,

Watching the dying doves of bleached white fleece.

Created by men who face the cameras behind the fence.

Protected by men dragged from loving wives to their defense.

 

“Here I stand on treacherous ground to solidify this,

The treaty I propose shall guide as the world’s compass.

No one shall fear the tyranny of men ruling here,

I shall guide the world to peace. I am the man who’ll steer.

Trust in me and watch my lead, I am the one that you need.

Follow me and you shall see, how to avoid this nasty stampede.

 

Some say that I am the most powerful man in this world.

I plan to take you all from this greedy man’s stronghold.

As the President I say once more, your boys will come home

Just like before, many have fallen and placed respectfully in a tomb.

Follow me in this noble cause this day, to kill and to save.

A new road of peace, hope, and love we shall pave.”

 

The President is bright and strong in the words of peace.

But all soldiers know that, in sign of fear, he’ll fall to his knees.

Respect is gained through courageous action of the heart,

Not through wise words and driving fighting families apart.

No soldier cares for their ultimate leader at home,

They all wish to see him fall, weeded by a comb.

 

One man stands out of his hole of defense to behold,

The great amount of red fluid, his body is so cold.

The rush of near death has masked his great pain

As he calms he feels more anguish than his BDU stain.

Calling for a helpful medic, he lifts the cloth exposing the wound.

The medic arrives avoiding the soldier’s awareness, he’s doomed.

 

Lifting the soldier to a safe place of work, knowing the strife,

The medic works and plans to save this brave man’s life.

The man is sent home leaving his comrades behind to fight,

Hoping he can come back to shed word of peaceful light.

He shall never see these men again for they die the next day.

He will never know in detail why it had to be this way.

 

Blood and tears has been shared with these,

Who lay cold and alone, dead within leaves.

To have the honor of dying with men this great,

Has pleased him more, even through their fate.

The peace of resting souls fill the man’s living heart

For he now knows his duty while they’re apart.

 

For his duty is to clear the path of the youth

To help them learn in the great ways of a sleuth.

For the future, are they, who will lead our land.

We can only pray we raised them to see the grand.

These youth, he’ll hold dear. Not knowing about his son.

The child not yet born shall be the first root he’s sown.

 

Coming home he is splashed with blood of the sheep,

Who follow nothing like the men who pour, for they sleep.

With closed eyes they judge the world that they miss.

Knowing not the damage done, creating their abyss.

They march and they yell, not for the men who decide,

But the men who fight, who defend, the men who complied.

 

Baby killers, murderers, filth, swine, and men of hate,

The names these brave soldiers receive, annoy, aggregate.

For they didn’t fight for the policies made of men away.

They fought for their brother, their friend whose body lay.

Without the peace in their heart, or forgiveness for living,

The brave soldier held his heart, his love never giving.

 

Blame not the men who comply, the men who never flee a fight.

The hate that is given to them will make them leave in the night.

For the day will come that the shadow crosses our land so free,

No soldier will fight, no soldier will stand, without the decree.

To take away the volunteer all that is left is the hope of empty peace.

Without the volunteer, those who throw blood and blame, “At ease!”

 

Thank the men in green, shake the hand of those

Who take your fear, hold it, and keep it close.

Forget about the policies when you spot the men,

Who stand, who fight, who refuse to flee, so you can,

Speak your mind and hold your signs. Throw your blood,

And call them names. They fight so you can, in the mud.

 

All of this is a story told many times before,

Soldiers aren’t the evil horror or the w***e.

They took an oath to defend this Nation we love,

Orders given by the men you picked, never enough.

Remember this in the name of those fallen over,

“My blood is lost for the love of my brother.”

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Amen! Amen! and AMEN! While your poem has a few grammatical and spelling errors, overall, it is stupendous! I agree with and appreciate the message, and I like the atmosphere that you created with your words. It's a lengthy poem as well, which is often difficult to read. You did a terrific job, however, of holding my interest. I felt as if I were on a battlefield and left with wounds that cut to the heart.

Great, great job!

[Donald Meikle]

These truths are self evident to any veteran. They are mostly ignored by anyone else. Macht's nicht bro

We know.

[K. C. Wells]

Hooah!

[Nicole (Carpe Diem)]

i have a special spot in my heart for soliders... as i have a few friends serving in the military...
this is a great piece of writing ... thank you for writing it.

[HoWiE]

Yeh this is a great piece mate, an epic modern day poem if ever there was one. I still don't get the people who thow s**t in the face of servicemen and women although, admittedly, that sort of thing happens rarely in the UK. I have been involved in both Gulf wars, the first on the ground as a comapny medic with the Royal Marines and the second onboard Ship as the medic to 270 guys. Thankfully on our return we were received well and to feel that support, especially when the ship returned to Portmouth, was astounding and more than a little humbling. I certainly think that the struggle comes when you return home to normality, it is such a drastic change that many guys have problems, it's not easy.
Again I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of work - thanks for thins mate. HoWiE ;-)

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

A great look at the tragedy of war and the brave one who fight no matter what.

[Will B.]

Mastermind: I was active duty for several years as an Infantryman. My experience showed that all too often the people who ridicule the soldiers who volunteered are the same people who are protected because the soldiers HAD volunteered. In Vietnam, there was a draft and many of the people who caused the most pain to the returning soldiers were either on the list for draft or not eligible for draft. Today the draft is gone and those who go out of their way to go after the soldiers forget that it is a decision away to place them aboard the same ship, tank, aircraft or desert that the volunteered soldiers had just arrived from. Remember... thirty years ago women in the military was a rarity. Now it is a common reality... potential upcoming draft may not just be applied to men alone.

Thank you all for your reviews of this poem. It means a lot to know that it is getting people to think, even for an instant, the way I do regarding the volunteers.

It is perfectly okay to be against the war... just don't be against the warrior.

[Mastermind]

Quite a good poem, and though there are a few pieces here and there I may not necessarily agree with, I think that you were right to approach the subject. Do you have family in the military, or are you just writing this as a symbol of the support you hold for our soldiers? Well, thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!

[Diana Owen Busy with Li..]

a really awesome piece of work, there was a few errors in spelling but it had a nice flow to it, and great imagery.

[Autumn Dawn Gorny]

The true feeling of war is spoken throughout this poem.

[Natalie C]

Oh wow, William, I am covered in goose bumps, maybe because I can related to almost every word. I grew up in the middle of the Namibian/Angolan war in the late 80's. Both my parents where part of a special SA defense force. I hated every day that they had to go out, not knowing if they would return safely.

I loved this piece for so many reasons. Your imagery was brilliant and the words seemed to flow quite easily.

Thank you so much for sharing this brilliant piece.
I really loved it!

"My blood is lost for the love of my brother."
Simply amazing!!!!