My Friend In Afghanistan Poem by Cynthia Buhain-baello

My friend in Aghanistan
Stationed in the frontlines,
He sleeps with his loaded gun
And has never stepped on a mine.

He is a brave young man,
Fighting in eternal wars
From Iraq to Afghanistan -
He may yet get a purple star.

I wrote him to say a prayer
And to connect him with some sanity,
For the trauma and carnage there
May break up a man mentally.

My friend in Afghanistan
My prayer for him was this:
That he remain a whole man
And may he go home in one piece.

But I sadly learned today
His copter blew up in flames,
He has gone permanently away -
Another pawn in these war games.


-
July 5,2009 Tarlac City Philippines