I've been places I don't want my children to be,
I've seen things I don't want my children to see,
I've killed men whom I've only known as "the enemy".
I've laid in the dirt which turned into mud,washed in
what once was water and now turned into blood.
I've seen my fellow men being shot and killed. Held
their hand until their last breath and watched the
life in their eyes disappear... and just like that they're no longer here.
I've killed without emotion not realizing that was
someones son, brother, father or lover.
I did it trained not to put my feelings into it not to care.
No my children will never be here.
Sitting in the rain one night, thinking what's the
real reason behind why I fight.
And how this war has changed and what it took away from me.
Is it for my country, my family,they say war will follow you where ever you go,
NO! My Family Will Not Be Apart Of This!
I'll fight bring on the risks.
So I fought and I fought hard and now I'm home,
A smile across my family faces "happiness"-
All except one.
The look of war is in his eyes and it's strong for all to see.
I think to myself, "What have I done, could I have upass this on to my son?"
My oldest son has joined the force it was something he
felt like he needed to do.
No! I won't let him he doesn't know what war can do
and take away from you.
NO! I Promised "Myself",
THAT PLACE MY CHILDREN WILL NEVER BE!!
So I cry, yell and plea, trying to make him see,
that place is not where you want to be.
But some lessons are better learned on their own,
And it has because now he's writing me now he wants to come home.
Well he did come home but not in the condition he
would've wanted to be,
Gunshot wounds to the chest I laid my oldest son to rest,
Once again this war has took away from me.
I've began to hate myself for leaving in the first place,
this war has took more from me than what I can replace.
Time past, still hating myself for what has been done,
The look of war is in their eyes; I have two sons left
and I know that soon I'll have none.
So if you're reading this please take this to heart as a plea,
Don't let what happened to me happen to your family.
Keep your children close and let their lesson be learned threw me,
Keep them from the places I'VE PROMISED MY CHILDREN
WILL NEVER SEE.
By Quarshella Coles