After the War

Surreal haze of war
Blinded, numb and bloody
The soldier limps along
They say the paper is signed
They say the war is over
The horror now behind
Yet still the shots ring out

Was ever peace existing?
The first shots fired forgotten
How it started so unclear
And all these years just battle
fighting ducking taking cover
Living in a trench
Never sure just why.

Morally expected
Carrying out your vow
To never leave your station
No worse is worse enough
Bruised and battered
Marching, falling, getting up
Falling down again.

The haze of war is clearing
The numbness fades away
Sickness comes in waves
The damage now surveyed
So great the devastation
New losses still uncovered
How deep the wounds of war

Watching steel being pulled
From deep within the flesh
The length of blade so startling
The weapon of an expert
so deftly placed and sunk
The twisting was the thing
Twas no mistaking that.

Still the heart is pumping
And sutures slow the bleeding
But wracking pain and dizziness
Make marching on so hard
Life will not be stopping
And perhaps the march of time
Will leave the ruins of war behind.

Wiser now, perhaps
Weary now, for sure.
The mind now filling gaps
Obscured by haze of war.