Should cowardice be cloaked in the shadows of dread,
When the bravest of souls are left cold and dead?
And what of the innocent hearts that quiver in fright?
Can we scorn their retreat from the chaos of night?
For every soldier who charged into flames,
There are those who retreated, consumed by the shame.
Should they bear the burden of labels unjust,
Discovering the one behind the gun is the one he trusts?
In a world where valour is praised like a prize,
What of the lives that chose safety's disguise?
Are they less than the ones who withstood the cruel storm,
Or just human, imperfect, acting as us all?
Should these young souls, who were not prepared to commit,
Have their lives stolen if they weren't ready for it?
Should their names be written down with Shame?
Would you have done it? Are they truly to blame?
When their eyes are covered and the crows caw,
When the tears are absorbed and the last breath is drawn.
When the shot is fired and his body goes limp,
Do you really, truly believe that he deserved it?
YOU ARE READING
To Live is to Die
PoetryI find war a fascinating topic-so broad yet so focused, filled with so many emotions and endless stories to explore. Sadness has its own kind of beauty, and that's what I wanted to capture here. To Live is to Die is my way of remembering the lives s...
