In a land far from his home
beneath the midnight sky
a young man prays that he would live
while full prepared to die
An oath he's proudly taken
He shall not fail to serve
so in the face of mounting fear
he gathers up his nerve
The orders have been given
He knows what must be done
and though he may be sacrificed
the battle must be won
He looks out to the distance
into the darkness of the night
and though death may be waiting
he marches to the fight
Unable to stay focused
he drifts off to the past
and wonders if that kiss they shared
was doomed to be their last
He promised her that he'd return
She held him close and wept
He told her he had never made
a vow he had not kept
No warning comes before the pain
he feels within his chest
He falls to the hallowed ground
'tis now his time to rest
Amidst the raging battle
he knows he'll die alone
and faces now a loneliness
such as he's never known
He doesn't feel the peacefulness
he always thought he should
just regret he'll never do
the things he swore he would
His dying thought before the black
through blood and burning tears
a prayer his God will count the worth
of each his eighteen years

mike loftis
z

08/31/2004