The clank and clatter of steel on steel,
The squeak and squeal of heavy wheels,
The muttered curses of tired young men,
The rumbling engines fill silence and then,

The thud of explosions just up ahead,
The unspoken fear that friends are now dead,
The cackle of rifles so very close by,
Men screaming for corpsmen in agony cry,

With no real idea what it's all for,
Beyond a vague notion we've done this before,
Results that profoundly were painful back then,
Resurface and teach the same lessons again,

We came here to liberate and to make free,
Naivest of 

I forget my keys and people's names, 
Just every kind of thing.
Schedules, dates and meeting times,
To the forefront I can't bring.

Why is it then that there are things
That would be best forgot,
That never will be deep repressed,
Ere I will or not?

Second fiddle, second rate
Left to swallow bitter fate
Wanting more, wanting praise
To have at least some glory days
Even friends seem not to see
The deeper longing inside me
And sorrow when I'm pushed aside
My disappointment I just hide.

Half a sentence uttered when
They interrupt me, cutting in
Didn't notice I was there
And moved along without a care
Thoughts of mine are questioned quick
As if my logic wouldn't stick
Wrong by default, why ask me
Never mind, just ignore me.

Drip, drip, drip, drop,
To the bottom from the top,
Through the night I hear plip plop,
While in bed I flip and flop,
Should jiggle handle on the pot,
To cut the noise and make it stop,
But I never leave my spot.

The adults all say that I'm unique,
A different, special child of God,
But I'm not a dumb or clueless kid,
It's all because I'm downright odd.

Whoever thought a body part,
Could run and win a race,
Especially without arms or legs,
And stuck onto my face.

Its endurance is remarkable,
And speed is quite profound,
Running non-stop day and night,
With jumping, leaps and bounds.

You'd think it would've proved it's point,
And stopped to rest by now,
But my runny nose just won't stop,
To rest or take a bow.

A yellow bird with three-foot legs,
Gypsies stealing rotten brats,
A bunny poopin' chocolate eggs,
Vampires who fly like bats,

The monster underneath my bed,
A fairy thief who stole my tooth,
Krampus behind Santa's sled,
The troll under the attic roof,

I'm sure these are a made up lot,
To frighten kids and keep them straight,
But I don't buy it -- not a jot,
I'm much too smart to take the bait.

But Santa on the other hand,
Who never once has brought me grief,
And brings me presents very grand,
Is surely worthy of belief.

When you're young you know it all,
The world seems black and white.
Complex issues broken down,
Devolve to wrong or right.

But vision blurs with heightened age
The crispness fades away,
Hardened edges smear and smudge,
Sharp contrast blends to gray.

Living lessons teach restraint,
In judging others deeds,
Right and wrong still hold their ground,
But leave space in-between.

Would you like to be a bird,
And fly up in the sky,
Dart around the puffy clouds,
And soar up oh so high?

Eating worms and slimy things,
Pecking bark for grubs,
Munching fleas and bottle flies,
And other kinds of bugs?

Would you like to be a bird,
The sovereign of the sky?
If you do, so please yourself,
But as for me... Not I!