to stay and fight
or turn and run
into the night
to live or die

the uniform goes on
and so your mother sighs
dreams of glory fill your head

but if you live and plan to wed
a hero you'll be no more
in a war that is no war
and end that is an end

all your life, wounds to tend
boys into men
you'll age by years of ten

lying still in the ferns
death every where you turn
men you called brother and friend
lie in wait for the end

websterb@sonoma.edu