Politicians - with backup from the military-industrial complex - make the decision to go to war. But it is the soldier on the ground, who pays with his life and limbs, that in the end is left alone to face his conscience.


A Soldier's Lamentation

I've learned to use the guns you've made
And the planes that were built to destroy
I've learned to fight with God on my side
For my country with pride and with joy

I've tried to seal the wounds of the past
And my ears from the cries of the dead
I've longed to hear the angels sing
And wash off the blood that was shed

I've seen them rise like ghosts from the grave
When they haunt my dreams in the night
I want to repent the things I've done
But I've learned to believe it was right

Copyright © 2011 Göran Gustafsson. All rights reserved



Poetry by Göran Gustafsson
Read 571 times
Written on 2014-06-19 at 15:16

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ken d williams The PoetBay support member heart!
An exultant work. Got me to thinking and composing a poem.
Ken
2014-06-19



So well written it really reaches and tears the heart out.
2014-06-19



You have written a masterpiece of awareness here. Whenever someone writes this way about war, the tears flow from my eyes, for war has touched my life more often that I would like to tell. Your words speak the truth and the pain of war. Well done.
2014-06-19