Darling your head is held low darling your chin touches your chest Honey this head was once held high, a helmet upon it I thought I could reach the sky Darling your eyes seem cold and distant darling those eyes I've never know Honey these eyes have seen battle honey these eyes have seen many men die Darling your ears why must you shield them. You cover them most of the time Honey these ears have heard the screams no man should give honey ears they remember what it was like at the front of the line Darling your mouth it's thin and it quivers, darling you you wake up screaming at night Honey I know what the truth is but I must keep it inside. Honey I wake shouting for my men to retreat, to back away from the land mines Darling your back it stoops over darling your shoulders sag Honey my back carried many men from both side darling these shoulder carry the guilt of a war Darling your hands they shake and tremble, why do you hide and wipe your palms Honey these hands have a rifle. Honey these hands have killed. I try to hide what only I can see, the blood that stains these palms Darling your feet you stumble and you shuffle, I've never a man walk so Honey these feet have been to battle, stood beside my men with pride. Honey these feet carried me away from death. Darling your soul seems weak and weary, darling your soul seems so old Honey I have been to battle, honey I was in a war. All of the truth was not as I knew it. I carry a battle I'll never forget. Honey I am so lost. Darling why not put it behind you? You have every right to move on. Honey I can't put this behind me. It has become part of my soul. I wish I could remember what this body did that was any good Darling your head is good with plans to get men home safe. Darling your eyes see what's around you keeping many alive. Darling those ears have heard laughter from your men in the foxhole. Darling your mouth holds a strong voice. one that sings your a grand old flag. Darling your back had carried unknown children who wanted to play. Darling your hands remained steady when you salute your flag. Darling your feet were sure and steady when you met your men for the first time. Darling your soul will never forget but you have to let go. Darling your here and that is what matters. You brought many back that should not be alive. You have known war and been to battle but you cannot live in the past. So raise your chin, hold your head high. Salute the flag. Remember the reason why you went to war and why our flag flies.
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Posted: Nov 2013
About this poem:
I dreamed this conversation and had to share it. Hope you agree