Crosses and Losses

Little boys playing with guns in the yard

Killing for country and God

Learning that life can mean nothing

But nobody thinks that it’s odd

Billions spent building their weapons

Millions will die for their needs

Safe in their ivory towers

Where nobody suffers or bleeds

Waving the flag in our faces

Follow their orders to death

Duty and honor are lethal

Children that fight to the death

Parents who live with the losses

Families paying the cost

Counting the rows of white crosses

Nothing brings back what they’ve lost

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Pilgrim's Path

Looking at old photographs

Of lighter childhood days

I thought about the lines of age

That show in different ways

The years go by like shooting stars

That crossed through my life's sky

They leave me this far down the road

To sit and wonder why

Regrets and obligations

Replaced my hopes and dreams

Lost in this reality

Where nothing's as it seems

But I'm grateful for the darkest nights

Spent searching for the stars

Thankful for the joy and pain

The souvenirs and scars

And I've still got some rows to hoe

There's much left to be done

Many miles ahead of me 

Before my race is run

For those who came before me

And those who will remain

This tapestry I'm weaving

Is given in their names

So, come and walk beside me

And journey with a friend

So far from my beginnings

Much closer to the end

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