A Soldier's Curse

A soldier’s curse, to live with death,
to contemplate with each new breath
if they’ll go home within a hearse,
to live with death, a soldier’s curse.

A soldier’s fate, to fight and serve,
to face the fray with steely nerve
then guiltlessly eradicate—
to fight and serve, a soldier’s fate.

A soldier’s friend, unclouded eyes
to pierce the enemy’s disguise;
beware the ones that screech "Defend!"
unclouded eyes, a soldier’s friend.