SETTING SONS

A rocket flies out of the darkness
Then crashes to earth with a thud,
Shattering all that's before it
It smashes down deep through the mud,
A fury that gouges a crater
And splashes its raw sides with blood.
Machine guns speak up from the shadows
Spitting out grist for the fight,
Scant warning they give as they fire
Emitting a tell tale light,
While bullets seek out easy targets
Flitting unseen from the night.

Surrounded and sorely outnumbered
A grave faced patrol of marines,
Their enemy thrives on the darkness
These brave soldiers knows what that means:
Young sons who've shared their last sunset
Still save a few in their teens.
Surely their deaths will excuse them
Every care, every trace of regret,
Such burdens pass now to their people
Who must bear them lest they should forget,
Their sons who became easy targets
Who won't share another sunset.

Machine guns fall quiet in the shadows
The killing for this night is done,
Mayhap there's a sunrise in heaven
God willing for each setting son.

COPYRIGHT D M PAMMENT 2009