The Soldiers' March Poem by Amar Agarwala

They marched past my lane warriors all
Smart grey fatigues, mirthful soldiers tall,
Hats inclined, their buttons shining bright
Boots drumming into a warming light,
Young hearts harking to their nation's call.

I laud mother's who have given birth
To lads seeking a heavenly berth,
Spurning their tomorrows' for others
Courting death for sake of their brothers,
They are but heavens' glory on earth.

They melted into that day of June
Unsung heroes in a blazing noon,
Cheered by townsfolk who bid them goodbye
Sending them to battle fields to die,
Their wreaths being readied as festoon.

Their bravery in battles I read
On alien soil they lay and bled,
Spilling the blood of mothers' somewhere -
Whose tears of valour only pride can bear,
Their flesh ceded to the land of dead.

O'History on your pages I smote
That heavens' pen this bloodied note,
Of unsung heroes who gave their breath
Quartered their flesh at altars of death,
Patriots for whom kind words it quote.
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