A sharp bone chilling scream pierces the night
It warns of a soul in harm's way
I have heard these sounds fill the air
Imbedding the sounds in my memories each day
A cold chill I feel along my spine
I can see the pain wretched face looking at me
Blood pools around them on the ground
From their pain let them be free
My stomach churns as the injury I see
Both legs missing from a body so strong
Seeing brave men serving their country with pride
Torn from loving comfort for so long
I look down into their eyes open wide
Wishing there as something comforting to say
No words came from my lips this night
As on this battlefield another injured hero lay
He closed his eyes and I heard these words
As he softly whispered them to me
"Dear Lord take my body to rest now
Let me lay with others that gave for us to be free
I am not a hero, nor do I ask for praise
I serve my country with honor and pride
Knowing that one day this may be my end
I accept you now with arms opened wide
Nothing special do I ask for in my time of need
Just your embrace I want to now feel
The end is near for me, as here I lay
My life slowly slipping away I can feel"
A soft gasp I heard escape his lips
His eyes closed as I watched a smile on him grew
A brave hero in my eyes before me lay
He had taken his last breath of life this I knew
I wiped a tear from my cheek as it ran
As not to show weakness in front of this brave man
I closed my eyes now and said my own prayer
Asking God to take care of this hero this day
And to comfort loved ones back home do far
Who anxiously wait for word on their hero each day
His body is removed no as downward I stare
At that empty blood stained spot on the ground
The war still wages around me battles are fought
For a minute I can not hear their ugly sound
Pain filled my heart as I stood and turned around
Pack on my back, across my arm my rifle lay
Walking through this war this very night
Reality telling me my tour might end the same way
(C) Tall Mountain Dreamer September 8, 2007
