Eyes water as I hold my breath
Feel the air depleting as I beg for death.
Arms bleed and fall numb to the pain
Crawling through the window into the rain

Ears throbbing from the outlandish blast
Siting with my rifle, this fight will be my last
Enemies approach for an attack
Pull the bolt back, give it one quick rack.

I’m a warrior, I’m no stranger to the fray
Battle hardened from death and decay
This is where I will make my final stand
Forgive me, for I may go to the holy land

Rifle barrels explode all around
Shells land on the blood soaked ground
Reinforcements push up, securing the area
Medics pull me away from the mass hysteria

I look back at my fallen comrades
Men that were sons, husbands, and dads
Locked in a twisted burning tomb
Unable to escape their fiery doom.

5 years have past since that day
Nightmares that haunt me will never go away
I think of them every time I hug my family
Hero’s of war or just another casualty?