It’s quiet here beneath the boughs;

The grasses ripple in the breeze;

Azure sky’s loose caress of

Blue-white clouds and sun’s warm rays.

It wasn’t so in days gone by;

Those days – loud ammunition’s fire,

Behind you! shouts or calls for help,

The dust, the heat, and chaos dire.

One day my last, a sudden shock

And one last look at skies of gray;

Silence save for sight and sound of

A buddy’s tear and plea to stay.

But now? God holds me in His care

Because for those who, brave and true,

Sacrifice for righteous cause

He knows, because He did so, too.

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