Joel T. Bailey

THE SOLDIER

He left home eight months ago
But it seems like a year or more
He can still see his mother
Waving from the door

He never thought he’d ever be
In a place called Afghanistan
But now he’s here in this war
Trying to do the best he can

A hot dry wind is blowing hard
The dust is almost ankle deep
He tries to get a little rest
But he’s just too tired to sleep

It’s not at all like he imagined
Nothing about this war is fun
He prays every day he’ll still be alive
When all the fighting is done

He never gave much thought
Whether this war is wrong or right
He knows his love for his country
Is the reason he chose to fight