Brave Souls

White trash this opportunity it does embrace The Negro has now found a means of discarding his disgrace Women, the military ceiling promising to move Legacy for the young lieutenant, family calls to improve Bankers salivating at the prospect of war Economists spread fear like an infected # Admirals requisition the bombs and chemical fire Presidents ready their speeches to recant by the funeral pyre

Untested courage lost by the first command Marching boots remain quiet in the blood soaked sand The firmness of young flesh does anger the foe By the end of battle, deadened souls climb to a higher plateau To those who wake to witness the horror Unimaginable their duty as the silent juror Authority orders them to surrender their thoughts Reason not a prerequisite in the journey they sought Body bags queued as carcasses in a processing plant Civilian dead marked by tears and an eerie cant Rotting body parts lain among the weed Their loneliness in decades will bring life to a dormant seed The ugliness of military refuse graces the meadow Behind each tree the wreckage is guarded by a frightened shadow A lonely boot stands guard by a burned out bunker Laces charred, unable to start the Jeepish junker Brave souls this youth professed to be Where there were thousands remain only three Fight the good fight for country and honour Little does mama know, her baby-faced boy is now a goner. Joseph Pede

Asking God Forgive Me Please

A young boy sits in the park dreaming of great things Plucking at dandelions as the sparrow sings Lazing in the grass never thinking beyond tomorrow Incapable of measuring man's divine sorrow Night has fallen and he is dreaming of his girl Her reality is like an illusive pearl As he awakes mother yells ready to arms Country is calling meaning no harm A boat ride across an ocean with tears in their eyes Looking at each other remembering the good-byes A proud father watches with fear in his smile Wondering if his young son will be safe all the while Huddled in prayer before they dashed to shore Splashing their boots on the ocean floor Finding safety behind the body of another young lad The young lad whimpers crying for dad Gasping and aching a young soldier dies Yet waiting to hear his mother's cries Alone and lost in Hell's central park The young soldier awaits for the comfort of the dark A dash to safety and asleep at last No longer capable of measuring the past Clutching his hands to hide his fear A sparrow he could now no longer hear Morning has broken as he turns to the ocean Humanity's blood and guts lay in motion Falling back upon his knees Asking God forgive me please. Joseph Pede