A Battlefield Epiphany
A Battlefield Epiphany
The desolation stretches on before me
as I plod along on bloody feet
past the dying bodies of my comrades
strewn about in postures of defeat
carrion birds wheel high above the carnage
waiting for the death-smells to arise
triggering their unrelenting hunger
and causing them to plummet from the skies
dreary day gives way to somber twilight
my wounded body slows me to a crawl
I hear the sounds of battle in the distance
and pray for strength so that I will not fall
the enemy surrounds me in the shadows
twisted souls that feed upon my pain
forcing me to feel the fear of madness
seep into the sanctum of my brain
I know not where the mornings’ dawn will find me
or if I’ll be alive to even care
but death is always better than surrender
to a soldier drowning in despair
when this hellish fighting’s finally over
and those still living tally up the score
I wonder if some brave, young politician
will speak about the waste brought on by war
C. Lon R. Bruso
