What was once boyish laughter,
Now, permanent psycho social disaster,
Transformed into unending manly tears
As seconds turn into years,
Ordered chaos,
The smell of sulfur is in the air,
Heroic fears,
More battle lies ahead,
Women, babies... Civilian casualties lie dead,
He tires as it rains liquid orange fire,
Black smoke plumes and diesel fumes
Causing some to choke,
Ranks scattered, death's rattle, uniform in tatters,
Tree branches like birds fly through the air,
Slow motion scenes as though from a nightmarish dream,
Hearing muffled from the fire-fight’s reality,
Haven’t washed in days,
Duty's deception...
The soldier's life story is unending,
Because, no one can ever flip the page...
Bombs blast, duty, honor and death's memory etched in future rage.
