Tommy's War

When Tommy Lee turned sweet sixteen,
his patriotic English soul
dismissed the evil unforeseen,
and signed on to the muster roll.

He looked much older than his years;
this boy who yearned to be a man.
He pushed aside all doubts and fears,
as young men have since time began.

A few short weeks of training for
this soldier and all new recruits.
The age old strategies of war;
of armament and polished boots.

One moonless night they left for France.
Adrenaline was running high.
Tom’s luck held out with each advance,
until a blast lit up the sky.

Shot through with lead, he bled and bled
as poppy petals blew around,
and kissed the bodies of the dead
upon the torn up battleground.

As Tom crawled slowly to his knees
his eyes beheld an awful sight.
In shock he staggered to some trees,
then headed to a distant light.

Tom’s breath grew thinner with each mile.
His injuries were quite severe.
He had to rest a little while,
though foe and death were ever near.

As Tom sat down the light appeared
much closer than it had before.
His comrades came then disappeared.
They told him, he was done with war.

He closed his eyes and felt at peace.
No longer fearful, or in pain.
He waited for his soul’s release
from Tommy’s first and last campaign.