The War

written January 14, 2000

I walk across the plain of my life,

this desolate desert

My boots thud against the hard earth

Explosions go off all around me

the ground shakes my knees buckle

and I fall once more

I put my arms out

in an attempt to break this fall

But the impact is hard, shocking

I feel the blood trickling down my cheek

Sticky, warm

And I wonder if I should

continue this fight

The battle's old

and the scars deep; painful

My comrades rush to my aid

But I scream out

I don't want their help

Slowly I push myself to sitting

I look up and see a single drop of sun

And I wonder

Why this anger? This hatred? Why?

Maybe because we're afraid

That's why there's hatred in our hearts?

Pitting comrade against comrade

Friend against friend

I keep walking

Steel-toes head high

Ready to fight my own fight

even though I'm tired

I've got bullets in my eyes

and blood on my hands

and the world could drown in the tears

I've shed

But I keep walking

Walking to a rhythm all my own

with strengths that are still unknown