VENGEANCE IS MINE

There are times in every day,
That I recall a place so far away,
A distant memory I do hide,
Of friends of mine, who there, have died.

Out on patrol in the jungle night,
We engaged Charlie in a firefight.
VC snipers all around,
We kept our cool; held our ground.

Muzzle flashes off in the distance,
Returning fire with much resistance.
And bullets crashing next to me,
One caught Steven in the knee.

Another fired from far afield,
My buddy John, his life did yield.
Should I have been there in his place?
I can't forget my good friend's face.

Single shots had found their mark;
AK-47's with their distinct bark.
And now Tom lies wounded in the dirt,
Splashes of crimson on his shirt.

I picked him up off the ground,
When screaming past, came another round.
By the time the sound had reached my ears
The nightmare flashed before my eyes.

I saw the bullet hit his head;
My best friend Tom, and now he's dead.
I'll re-enlist for one more tour,
I'll get you, Charlie, that's for sure!

I'll kill you all, and take your ears,
This second tour, I have no fears.
And when I fight, I don't fear death.
Vengeance is mine, 'till my dying breath.

And when it comes my time to go,
The Lord will call, and let me know.
As this year's tour quickly passes,
I blow them up and kick their asses.

For I am vengeance; I am right,
And not a one of you, like me, can fight.
As I get short now, drawing near,
The anger fails me; now I fear.

And one day, careless, full of pride,
I caught a bullet and almost died.
I gave no credence to the Word:
"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord"

VENGEANCE IS MINE

©Copyright 2004 by David Todeschini