Soldiers, we died

We died

On rocks and dirt

In forests green

We died

In deserts and snowy fields 

Open plains

We died

On beaches and in their surf

On roads to nowhere

We died

Facing death or running from it

In unknowing silence

We died

Some as heroes, a few cowards and some not knowing 

But all of us men

We died 

Sent to wars far from home

We all mattered

We died

But not for our leaders

Our presidents or kings or queens

Not for money or glory

We died

In the end

At our end

We died

Not even for those at home

But for those at our sides

We died

As we looked around and saw our brothers

Running forward 

And those hidden silently from the storm of battle

We died 

For the wounded we could not leave

For the dead we would not save

For, sometimes, no reason at all

We died 

And we only ask of our country

Of our people 

One thing

Remember 

So that you would not

We died 

©johnfklee