Truth of War
by Michael Doyle

Most of the world's problems start with war
It's a noteworthy thing that it takes more
Then dreamy words offering a shallow victory
To come out on the winning side of history

Many a fool has believed themselves better
When cooler heads were needed in heated weather
When it seems victories might yet still be won
Without arms enough to fight even before it's begun

A fight cannot be won through mere brilliance
But to win a war comes with close review and with reliance
That rush of exuberance that is not well-earned
Causes many wounded who come back with lessons learned

Listen close to the truth of war -- no one wins
Those who have fought know this before war begins
I's a lesson that I've learned all too well
As my mirrored reflection echoes the depths of this Hell

Wars fought hard are often a waste of might-have-been legacy
It depends on which side a person stands in history
As to just how tragic, tortured, and bad
But either way is equally sad...

We pray that God may yet save our souls
Yet, in war, God does not always have full control
Life too often slips away from the good
For the life of me, I've never fully understood

         ...(I suppose that I never will)...

There it is that the slow drag of death
That creeps up slowly, taking away its victim's breath
These are the wages of war and the price of our sin
It makes a person step foot by foot and yet again

Until, at last, we find the song of a journey is done
The struggles lived are fought and sometimes are won
But other times, we fight hard only to find that we lose
It's a spin of the roulette wheel, more of luck than choose

(c) November 27, 2023  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved