St.Claire Redwood - BORDER WAR

Rhodesia December 1973

No glory here and not patriotism,
just the lifeless body of a friend
whose bloody clothes are his only protection
from the deep humility of death.

Soldiers look at each other, eyes dark with pain.
They can't understand, he was so young!

No medals here and not bloody tradition,
this is war, just as war truly is
stripped of its uniform and glory
just pain and death and sheer wastefulness!

When the war is over, will they have achieved
enough to make his death worthwhile?

St.Claire Redwood

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/border-war/