The Cost of Freedom

Come now, old soldiers swallow your pride

Recount the story of the day that you cried

There is no shame of a tear on your cheek

You have a right for all the solace you seek

There should have been no fault in your job

Why then, old soldiers, do you continue to sob?

You were young then without a mind of your own

In a war without rules, killing was easy to condone

His life or yours was the justification you used

But the enemy was faceless and just as confused

It was easy to live with what happened in war

After all, soldiers are paid to do what we deplore

No young soldier knew what the years would take

Young men grew older with only themselves to forsake

They paid the price that earned their tears

Come now, old soldiers, recount those years

©8/14/08Terry Sutherland

This poem inspired "Tears for Peace" by Thurman P. Woodfork