As a child he played
In the woods and in the fields
Army being the game
**** or be killed
All just pretend
Nothing was real
It's how children play
Not a big deal

With a father there
To encourage the son
Enjoy your youth
While you're still young
For a day will come
When it all comes undone
Where you see life as it is
For most if not some

Life pulls at his youth
Tugs at his heart
Needing something to do
For country and God
The Army calls him
He gives them a nod
Where training is tight
As the day is long

The father prays
The son will stay safe
From the folly of youth
To the world of today
For whatever is thrown
Or shot his way
As his son goes
Into the world to save

Orders for him
Afghanistan
Where he'll go to fight
The Taliban
With guns and bombs
No longer a game
Thankful he has
A father that prays

The father in his prayer room
A war room of sorts
Cries out to God
For a righteous course
One that his son
Can walk upon
For safety's sake
And Kingdom come

The battles they wage
Both hand in hand
The son as a soldier
The father a praying man
Until the son
Is safely back home
In the arms of the father
Where he belongs