A Soldier’s Lament

 

Sent off to a distant land to fight in a war;

Only wanting to do my part, no less, no more.

When I left home I was young and naïve,

Returned a cynic, unable to believe.

 

“I am a warrior, I will not show fear.”

“I am a warrior, I will never shed a tear.”

I thought like this ‘til I saw a close friend die,

And I saw our sergeant, a three tour vet, kneel down and cry.

 

The horrors of war, they can happen so fast;

Forever to torment, forever to last.

No one said a word when we saw a small child die,

There was no one to listen when we asked, “why?”

 

To my friends and family I was fearless and bold.

I was tired, angry and felt a million years old.

All I, all everyone dreamt about was making it home,

Will I be like my uncle, a Nam vet, always wanting to be alone.

 

Michael D. Monfrooe USA Ret

27 September 2007

 

Written for a troop after he made it home from his 3rd tour in Iraq.