Soldier's Ballad Poem by Aaron Lynn

I'm a soldier by duty,
But a human by heart,
And I wonder if you will stay true.
As I lie in this bunker,
Awaiting my death,
I'm brought back to that farewell from you.

Though I left with a fight,
And you said you were scared,
I promised that I would return.
But your reluctant, sad eyes
Gazing back into mine,
Showed me the doubt within them as they burned.

So I finally sat as the thoughts made me cringe,
Gathered some paper and silently penned:

'I'm ever so sorry for being so cold,
The fear of death had surrounded and angered my soul,
But no fear burns inside greater than losing my bride.
You're the reason I'm here, still fighting and alive.
Remember that wonderful night back in June?
We laid in my truck beneath the bright beams of the moon.
Thats the time that comes back every night in my dreams.
I know our love is much stronger than it sometimes may seem.'

I'm a soldier by duty,
But a human by heart,
And I have faith that you will stay true.
As I lie in this bunker,
Evading my death,
I'm lifted up by the beauty of you.

Many months have now passed,
But I've obtained it at last,
A letter from the love of my life.
My prayers are answered,
I hold them all in my hand,
Some solace to be found in this plight.

I go and sit down with my heart filled with glee,
As I open her letter and silently read:

'I am ever so sorry, but you are insane
If you honestly think I'll be a part of your game.
All that I ever wanted was for you to stay,
Now you expect me to wait with my body in chains?
Don't write me again, I'm so sick of your lies,
Your brother had to hold me as I violently cried.
Now I know this might hurt your big masculine pride,
But I've been seeing him since the fourth of July.
Maybe now you will learn that you shouldn't leave me.
I threw your engagement ring into the sea.
As this chapter of my life now comes to a close,
Your love has eroded, as a new chapter grows.'

I've never been lower in all of my life,
My reason for living wrote me with a knife.
Betrayed by my family, their hearts made of stones.
As I carry on and face certain death all alone.

Many months pass again,
And I fight one more time.
The enemy advances,
And pierces our lines.
This may be the end,
Our one final stand.
So, into a flurry of bullets
I rose and I ran.

Rounds penetrate my shoulder and sides,
But I had to go out in one last pulse of pride.
Firing my gun, I mow three of them down.
I see four of them run as I fall to the ground.

I'm a soldier by duty,
But a human by heart,
And I'll die knowing that I stayed true.
As I lie in this warfield
Embracing my death,
I'm at peace with that letter from you.