full of life, lively and bright,
but crushed in a soldier's stare
longing for silence.
 
heeded in the softest twilight
when a little duck drops by
just smiling to a french fry.
 
rarely expected in any crowd
more tainted from indifference
balanced toward the lowest mean.
 
Yet for the armies that suffer
a march by full and willing zeal
it is indeed smiling from many tears
that extend when quietly in prayer.