Onward Into Battle

Acres of death, oceans of blood
seep into the battle ground,
the dust and sands of the earth
mingling with the blood of
young boys playing soldiers.

Young boys as soldiers,
what lives are at stake
in this war-torn upbringing?
A machine gun burst or bomb shell
Sending them to an earthen grave.

As they sent to their graves,
they whisper and call out for mother
as if death were opened arms.
Others merely cry out and wail,
taking away the living’s sleep.

As the living lose their sleep,
their future is forever ruined.
The war will never end for them.
Too young, but also too old,
they shall be traumatized for life.

Forever being scarred by the war,
with their sleep haunted by the death rattles of comrades,
The earth becoming the tomb
of young boys playing soldiers, who marched
onward mercilessly to triumph or failure.