There he sat

Surrounded by a darkness without end

Silently crying within

Afraid he’ll give in

To the emotions that are bursting to break free

This soul…

So young…but so old

Ceases to believe in something so bright

Thinking he’ll never see the break of a new dawn

Or the glittering shine of the moon

Illuminating on a still lake

In the hours before the sun

Surrounded by the countless beauties of the night

Or believe in something

That should be an automatic given

And not a privilege

Something that…

To most…

Has been too frivolously taken

Or perhaps

Forgotten in time…

What he would give

To enjoy simply being a child

And the overwhelming joys that it beholds

What he would give

To once…even just once

See his lil’ sis and lil’ bro

Not have a worry to portray

But be able to

Laugh, jump, skip and play

What he would give

To once…even just once

See those two beautiful little faces

Smile brightly at something…

Something as simple as the beauty of an empty meadow

What he would do

To once…even just once

See their melancholy smile

Turned around

Into a bright, teeth shining beam

What he would do

To once…even just once

Not see them worked

From days first light

‘till night fall breaks

This is all he wants

To be able to see them

Laugh, jump, skip and play

Without a worry to portray

Because he doesn’t want his lil’ sis and lil’ bro

To feel ensnared in battle…

Like he…

For a childhood

Is what he missed

But no one can see this through his lies

Although…

From time to time…

They are betrayed by his translucent eyes

And he ceases to believe in something so bright

Thinking he’ll never see the break of a new dawn

To be strong and perseverant

This is what he’s supposed to be

At least…

That is what he believes

So…by this

Everything that is the truth

Of what he feels

Is buried, masked, secluded, forgotten

In a matter of moments

As he continues the fight

By the strength of a soldier

With the heart of a soldier

To be strong and persevere

Is what a soldier does

And no matter what throws them to the ground

The soldier and his bleeding heart

Always stands up

And carries on

For he fights a war

With guns, tanks and grenades

And every time he sets afoot upon that field of battle

A part of him shatters

And as he takes a pause

He looks around

Heart racing

Pulse increasing

And in the corner of his eye

A fellow warrior makes and takes

One more opportune moment

To try and fire on the opponent

Before they take there last breath

And subside to the ground

Heart racing

Pulse increasing

For another friend

Has been taken

This war he fights

Where thousands are left

Bleeding, wounded, dead

Causes a more fatal one within

Another war in which there seems to be

No beginning…no end

A war where

He is not only a soldier

But an entire army too

This life that he lives

Keeps him away…

Keeps him away from enjoying what should be…

He wonders…

How can people just stand by

And just drape a veil over the wrong

So they don't have to act

Don't have to think

And pretend not to see

As another precious young life is lost

And another watches waiting for the next to die

But he doesn’t give up hope

That someone will see

The immorality that he sees

In that which he does

And in the way he’s forced

To be a part of something he abhors

So he continues to fight

In a useless battle

Waiting…hoping…and waiting some more

That someone will come

To revive the children that have been lost in this battle

And simply give them what most children

Are freely given

A family

A home

A place where they know…

They can always return

A place where they can live

Without fretting for their life

A place where they'll always…

Always feel loved.