The tears I cry

you were here before
but you were so young
only 3 years old
I will never forget the look on your little face
the tears in your eyes when I stood and cried
I wished for rain
in the middle of a heat wave
so I wouldn't have to explain
the tears I cry
and sure as rain you asked
and I told you to look
there's Mommy in that big shiny car
as the procession drove by
but now I realize the tears I cry
were tears of pride and tears of love
and I am not embarrassed to cry
when you were not afraid to die
oh how I miss you and love you
oh how I wish you were here
but perhaps you were chosen for a reason
there are reasons and choices for us all
when this reaches you I hope you can hear me
it seems our son has answered the call
and he leaves on Monday so I guess it's true
he is really going after all
he's so big, strong and cunning like you
his voice fills the house and when he's gone
I don't know what I'll do
so please baby when you get this
look over him please
bring him back home
my world would truly end
if I were to loose him too
I love you so much
I know your Mother would have been
very proud of  you
we'll be a world apart
you take care and stay alert
you're not going alone
and just one more thing
please come home

The blood red strand

just up ahead
right where they stand
is a line drawn
in the sand
shoulder to shoulder
they stood each man
as we moved closer
they stood firm
we could almost see their eyes
when I saw the first one
I felt the fever rise
I knew it was him
by he look in his eyes
the first one's mine I shouted
and began the attack
onward to victory came my cries
and with a swirl of my sword
and a deep lunging thrust
I killed my brother for all of his lies
I stopped for a moment
as I pulled out my sword
why my brother, why my Lord
the line drawn in the sand
the blood red strand
where we once stood hand in hand
two young boys fishing
two young boys wishing
on the future
laughing about our lives
and our future wives
two young boys
two brothers
the blood red strand
why did it happen
why did you leave
this place your homeland
we never did get along
but never fought at all
to desert your family
your Mother, Father and Brother
to desert us all
and your friends
for fame and riches
to be worshipped
and bejeweled
we were brought up to believe
that people cannot be ruled
and used by keeping them in fear
why my brother, why my Lord
and how did we get to here
the line drawn in the sand
the blood red strand

making the right decisions in life can be the most devasting...sometimes involving the hurting of those we love most

I wanna be a soldier

(Too young to drink
Too young to vote
But not young to die
Such a young guy yet so grown up
I often ask myself why)

Dad, I wanna be a soldier
I remember hearing him say
A young boys dream
A game that they play
Day by day
Inch by inch
I watched as he grew into a man
Guiding and directing him
Doing the best I can
I taught him honesty
And integrity
To honour and respect
To bow his head in gratitude
When he takes time to reflect
On the many who came and went before
To fight for peace and freedom
And so much more
Dad, I wanna be soldier
Are the words that echo on that day
As I stood on the tarmac
Wishing him well as he went on his way
The last words that he said to me were
Don’t worry Dad, I’ll be okay
I see him still
Running through the yard
My little soldier boy
On that summer day
Bang, bang, he said
As he fired his toy gun
Nah, you missed me, said the other kid
And continued to run away
My fists are clenched
My legs are weak
My eyes are filled with tears
I can’t speak
Standing on this overpass
For what seems like years
My Son is coming home today
He’s coming home for good
Never, ever to be taken away again
My Son is a soldier
My Son is a hero
My Son has come home to rest
And he’s home to stay!