Roberto J. Prinselaar

YOUNG MEN

Young Men old before their time
With hollow eyes and vacant stare
So many days of constant fear
So many friends no longer there

Those same young men now truly old
Their ranks grow thinner every day
They’re getting ready to rejoin
The ones who died, who’ll show the way

Some battles never seem to end
And other end with just a sigh
But these young men have seen it all
And face their fate, and never cry

Now others young will take their place
And learn to face another’s death
To feel the thrill, “I’m still alive”
And still feel sorrow with their breath

There’ll always be young men grown old
The ones who faced our country’s foe
With memories scarred for ever more
Oh God! Oh God! Must it be so?