MY PIECE OF FLAG

Many names on stones can never replace the faces
as I said goodbye to their last breaths far away.

Yesterday some of us went on a hope of the word
freedom, others just hoped to come back someday.

Plenty of the oceans are still there, whispers of lost
comrades echo in the waves, lost words flow deep here.

In a soldier’s mind, you were a different cut of a man when you were there, now just to be a man you do every day with no fear.

Even the sky was a fog of war, it left me to leave
a light on at night to make sure I was real.

Can being a tough marine have you feel belief in tomorrow
to see the sun rise again? God did not make this deal.

Each echoing night that came to me was
my memories haunted of right and wrong.

Of my army friends, the flames of the candle light
flicker forever in my heart, for your fallen heroes gone.

For many, you went in faithless and came out holding
God’s hand, others are still finding themselves still.

Forward we walked on our world on fire, my eyes
felt ever flame, my heart had many holes to fill.

Look in my eyes, the emotions of these wars were seen through
the teardrops your mother and loved ones had when you came home.

Age of innocence was our motto back then, yet now
we have grown and have a piece of flag never to be alone.

Give peace a chance was a song still alive to this day, salute
the heroes still alive, to them choice was not a set tone.

This is my version of honoring our vets on Vereran's Day