Heroes Poem by Richie Branner

We will train and get in shape
We'll learn the discipline
To be part of the elite
Competing to get in

After many years of sweat
Achieve a uniform of glitter
A prize of education
Physique is so much fitter

We can travel distant grounds
With brothers by my side
Sail in troubled seas
Boyhood venture we will ride

We are king of jungle
Lord & prince of flies
Ready for a battle
To be lost in paradise

They place us in position
Equipment a little spare
Safe in communication
Leading powers will take care

The game of chess commences
I'm a knight and not a pawn
Hunting down for their king pin
Keeps us all from being torn

Insurgents play a wicked game
What kinda minds plant IED?
Hell must be so occupied
For the likes of them and ME!

The lights go out in the town
Sky rains bullets every day
Our safehouse is a filthy ditch
Howling missiles ricochet

Just a signal to the air
One finger on the gun
This life taking is too easy
It really isn't any fun

Perilous mountains echo
Voices from the past?
Who we fighting for again?
The ghosts you may have to ask

The lifeless corpses rest
Displaying wide eyes of death
Vomit in the stench of blood
They're only broken families left

We return to our safe shores
From battlefield of evil land
We fought for peoples freedom
People too busy to understand

Puppets with broken strings
We come back heads held high
Our brains may have shifted
But you can't wound our pride

So I'm proud inside my box
Shrouded with the jack
They salute me as a hero
Now at least I wont go back