Renay Marie Groves

THIS FEAR CAN AND HAS MADE ME CRY
(Written for All Soldiers Who Died in War)

What was it like
to look death in the eye?
Or Dear Soldier,
did you even ask why.

Noble to our country
we vow to be.
Does this remain,
when from mortality you are free?

Does your entire past
come into view?
An experience told by many,
not a few.

This embarkation
is done by all,
For the choice is not ours,
God makes the call.

This life makes me wonder
why we are here.
It must be the gifts
together we share.

There is no sense
when the young die,
And forever we ask
why oh why?

Is their obligation
fulfilled on earth
For I believe there is a plan
from our birth?

What to loved ones,
Did you say?
And to God at the time
Did you pray?

Did you feel your obligation,
In this life you met…?
Did you reach the goals,
For you that were set?

Was there still a connection,
To those in your past,
Or is your knowledge of them,
At that moment you’re last?

So many questions,
With answers we won’t know
Until it is, like you,
Our time to go.

Like you all have,
Being a soldier is all I can see,
While this your fate is my fear,
One I have yet to free.

Imagine how we convince ourselves,
Of this conscious choice we make.
But still I pray everyday,
My life God doesn’t take.

Brave is what I claim,
Everyday of my life.
But, what would my husband do,
Without his loving wife.

Madison and Nathan are,
The children we love.
And how I wonder what for them,
Could I do, from above?

Would they know the substance,
Of who they are,
With Mommy from them,
Gone from them so far?

Who could be proud of them,
Like only a mother can?
Daddy loves them but is
Not a woman but a man.

So today, for good reason,
Our memories preserve.
For to know how we loved them,
Is what they deserve!

Bless you dear comrades,
For you are a gem
You lost your life to,
Protect all of them.