Soldier
You were young, aching to be old
Put your boots on, to be told
Hang in soldier, God be paid
It won’t take long, know your trade
There is truth for what you do
A moment’s flash become the glue,
To the void of nothing except those there
Sucked of History, a blink, a stare
Go you back, of course tomorrow
No other moment, it isn’t sorrow
And not love though maybe close
And who would miss another dose
You go back, of course you do
Memory’s slide impels you to
You learned silence never to ask
Beggar the story always the task
You knew death, not very far
Always the moment, never a star
We thank you completely for backing us in
We own your tears if it were sin
Syrup the dragon soldier, avoid the throng
Pay no heed, and sing your song
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by Geoffrey Prior
FILE PHOTO: Members of Overwatch Battle Group–West get ready to participate in an ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Talil, Iraq, 2008. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
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