Story Behind The Soldier's Combat Gear Poem by Connie Tallada

Under the burning heat of the sun
They were forced to sleep with a thick blanket
In the middle of a cold night
They were awake fighting the cold breeze
In a place thousand miles away from home
Where laughter's and smiles got no room
They abandoned the gracious life of the free
Accepting the tough and bloody life of a trainee

Gone with a brave heart and aspirations
Off they went with bundles of determinations
Vading goodbye to their hometown and family
They choose and submitted themselves in military
They knew that it won't be smooth and easy
But still they preferred a job for the welfare of many
Away from their love ones and friends
They fight the sadness and urge to rescind

Within the four sides of the training field
Where their freedom of expression cannot be bailed
They started to savor the aroma of initiation
And tasted the bitter-sweet phase of their transition
They crawled in muds and felt the earth's softness
They ran thousand of miles and defy tiredness
They slept with same smelly shirt for days
And learned to appreciate their untidy faces

They were trained to become a defender
Molded and shaped to destroy the destroyer
They were taught how to handle their riffles
And were taught to love it more than anything else
Service for the people were injected in their souls
Country first before their own interest and pleas
They enjoyed the bliss of stolen sovereignity
And mesmerized the take life talks with their family

They spent weeks and months with heart all alone
With no other thought but to go home soon
They stood still in the war of emotions
And showed no tears in the middle of dejection
They sacrificed everything way back home
Because they knew they will be dignified in return
More than the beauty of their combat gear
Is a soldier who survived the test of adversity and fear