A Soldier's Tear

[HARDCORE]

A Veterans Day Tribute!

What price I paid to grow to man,
Now lay me buried beneath this land,
From babe to gone - before my time,
Cut down short - within my prime.

Upon yon beach - we all ran forth,
Into the fires - like a frightened moth,
Our hearts did pound - our minds went blank,
Was that rumble - a hostile tank?

Beyond the walls - our targets lie,
I feel a pain shoot through my thigh,
I know I'm hit - but I must press on,
Past the rocks - and barbed wire yon.

My time has come - at last I fear,
When roused anew by a muffled cheer,
So again I charge - thru smoke and char,
A ray of hope stabs from afar.

No longer can I move my legs,
My throat fill fast with bitter dregs,
I gaze about - but one last time,
Then close my eyes - to end this rhyme.
H. Rick Tavares
Copyright ©2008 H. Rick Tavares