We were never heroes, you and I, But we walked among them didn't we? When we wore the uniform and Bestrode the grounds on which they’d Killed and nearly died themselves for God and Country, as they say, and Their own little Bands of Brothers. We were never heroes, you and I, But twenty years before we donned The look and clothes of the soldiers They had been, those men with whom We shared their last days of service Had looked into the eyeless face of Death and told him, “Nutz!
We were never heroes, you and I,
But we walked among them didn't we?
When we wore the uniform and
Bestrode the grounds on which they’d
Killed and nearly died themselves for
God and Country, as they say, and
Their own little Bands of Brothers.
We were never heroes, you and I,
But twenty years before we donned
The look and clothes of the soldiers
They had been, those men with whom
We shared their last days of service
Had looked into the eyeless face of
Death and told him, “Nutz! I stay here.”
We were never heroes, you and I,
But we looked into the haunted eyes
Of men who’d seen best friends and
Brothers for a day turned into formless
Memories that stared back at them
With open dead accusing eyes, and
Came to them at night forevermore.
We were never heroes, you and I,
And that is no bad thing if it would
Have meant I had to watch you die.
I wish with all my soldier’s heart that
Every soldier in every Band of Brothers
From now until the end of days could say,
“We were never heroes, you and I.”
© Copyright 2014, R C Larlham – all rights and reserves to Author
- Your Words