Running through the bloodied field

Glory on his heels.

His mother’s prayers and God’s hot breath

His weapon and his shield

 

Thunderous booms and wailing screams

Drown every fear or doubt

A mission meant for slaughter

Tuned deaf to deathly shouts

 

The principles he fought for

Lie fractured in a grave

Buried under bullets

and souls who won’t be saved.

 

Every glimpse of horror

Every curdled obscene sound

Cousins fighting cousins

Brothers scattered on the ground.

 

Smoke so thick it chokes the sun

The trees succumb to lead

Beneath the shattered limbs of time

angels weep collecting dead.

 

His feet compelled to carry forth

A mind to act alone, to

one day kill that President

and send these soldiers home

 

But Perryville befell his plans,

Embattled bitter sons

ending lives and slaying worlds

At nearly one for one.

Ending lives beneath His eyes,

a Nation come undone.