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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