"the Road to Samawah" by Bob Atkinson

“the Road to Samawah”

(c)2010 Bob Atkinson

I sit, buildings blazing

tank parked near a tree 
for repair

cheese bacon MRE's

not my Mama's cooking

my heart's

at home in my prayers

giving all I can give

to this endeavor

i-rack-ees kill quick

and they don't care

about my home in Kintucky

and the family warm

in my prayers

my heart's at home in my prayers

fighting those who don't believe

in living freedom on the streets

takes care and understanding

is so damned demanding

my heart's at home in my prayers

drove down the road to Samawah

with gifts for the home

gave i-rack-ees blankets

to keep their children warm

my heart's at home in my prayers

on to the Tigress rode the weary

wary of murder, rape and scorn

came riding up upon us fast

dust flying 'round them

like a storm

my heart's at home in my prayers

fierce, skin dark from the sun

AK's hanging on their arms

thought we were invaders

were startled by our guns

my heart's at home in my prayers

we told them why we came here

to settle an old score

and give to them

what we have won

in centuries of fighting wars

my heart's at home in my prayers

they seemed to reason well enough

and understand our plan

then they blew us up inside

our trucks and our vans

my heart's at home in my prayers

a force this large they should not challenge

there's not a way for them to win

except in our own doubt of purpose

as in the VietNam

they settled down

and went their way

in our eyes not civilized

and yet their ways would make us see we weren't always wise

my heart's at home in my prayers

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