For God And Country Poem by Bryan Riley

It was all he wanted, all he dreamt of,
since he was a little boy-
the chance to serve, to give back
to the country he loved so much. (a host of angels to light your path)
It made his mother proud; her only
child, her son, walking his
destined path.

They discovered he had a
physical 'condition'- this could (it was all he ever wanted)
not be allowed. Only perfect
machines may go and die
in far-off fields. (just to serve, that's all)
So he was sent away- back to
a world that held no place for him.

He wandered, lost, as best (all he wanted)
he could, cursing the body that
had betrayed him; unable to (where was God when all this happened?)
escape the prison of his tortured
thoughts. It was all he ever wanted-
for God and Country. (I was. I am, beside you always)
Without it he was just a
hollow shell, and finally THAT
was just too much to bear. (just to serve)

Today a mother numb,
uncomprehending, (why have you abandoned me?)
struggles with a
thousand 'Why's'

Yesterday, (I am with you always)
a marine died of
a broken heart. (for God and Country)



April 15th,2015