The Militant Soldier Boy

Lies dying. In shame,

His body lies in disgrace,

Because he could no longer face

The Innocents.

The Innocents, the ones who died

At his hand in that foreign land.

He saw them in his dreams.

He saw them when he was awake,

Or walking about his hometown,

His place of safety, his refuge.

They stood beside him

At the altar

Of his church,

And when he was at work,

Until he could no longer face

The Innocents.

And so, with his Soldier Boy's

Tattered Honor gathered about him,

His heart gave a sigh.

He decided he must die,

Shamed and alone,

Like the Innocents.