standing at the water's edge
as the tide rolls in
playing its little game
of give and take

watching the waves crash in
and errode the beach
like you did my heart
so long ago

here i stand, upon the spot
were you told me
you didn't love me
anymore, breaking
my heart in two

standing at the water's edge
watching the water recede
leaving the broken sand
exposed to the world
for all to see

the memories remain
here at the water's edge
a giant repository
for all my sorrow
you left me with

the bruises of yesterday
stain her face
like smeared make-up

broken lips and blackened eyes
she doesn't cry
she just wants to die

she sleeps under cover of darkness
he steals her soul
and her will to live

she becomes numb
to the pain within
the pain between her thighs

there is no life
behind those eyes
a hallow shell
broken and alone

she does not scream
she does not cry
she does not fight
she just wants to die

porcelain skin
stained with blood
lifeless and limp
beneath satin sheets

a small white box
sits upon the desk
after all the mail
has been handed out.

he reaches over
and looks at the address
from someplace he doesn't know
"To Any soldier".

is all it says
upon the top
he takes a knife
and swiftly and gently.

cuts away the tape
opening it up
to his surprise
he finds cards inside.

some simple
drawn with a crayon
some extravagant
with decadent borders.

all with the same message
Thank You for what you do
for keeping us safe
for a man told never to cry.

the tears wail down his face
staining the ground
in tears instead of blood
to know people still care.

The water's calm
serene and beautiful
gently ebbing upon the shore
erroding it away
and giving in return

the clouds roll in
past the mountains
settling atop the water
giving the sunset
the beauty withheld

yesterdays and tomorrows
reflecting off the water
the memories of time
gently drifting off the tide
into the sands

the calm before the storm
the water doesn't budge
nor do i
when nothing remains
and everything stands still

as we stand there

and remember his presence

that is no longer near

his smile fades gently

into a higher place

as your name is called

silent tears

of ours weaped

and you don't answer

the last roll call

as we remember

what we have lost

a friend

a brother in arms

in the wages of war

of this were certain

you'll be avenged

your voice in our heads

your last command

we'll drive us to the end

as we stand here

a final salute

a final goodbye

a final prayer

in the last roll call

Peace is...
the long forgotten dream
the silent soliloquy
of the human condition
always out of reach
from humanities grasp
snickering behind bullets and bombs

Peace is...
the futile dream
of broken men
who've split blood
upon the land
fighting for nothing
and everything in between

Peace is...
a dream
a nightmare
a silent breathe
upon the wind
flickering in the light
hiding in the shadows

Peace Is...
A dying man's last wish