Soldier

We chose to be here, lives upon the line.
Block by block, door to door we crash this place
Of ancient history in lands divine.

As war rages and fruit rots on the vine,
We move with caution far outside our base.
We chose to be here, lives upon the line,

For reasons known and felt. We do not whine
For comforts lost or challenges we face
Of ancient history in lands divine.

Labyrinth alleys wander serpentine
Paths through earthen neighborhoods’ desert pace.
We chose to be here, lives upon the line.

Snipers from the rooftops, without a sign,
Fire at will. We take cover, a case
Of ancient history in lands divine,

Where blood-stained landscape flows like cheap, red wine.
We are here now, our power without grace.
We chose to be here, lives upon the line
Of ancient history in lands divine.