our parents glorified the war
courage in sacrifice, honour in duty, and pride in country
we dreamed of the victories
old enough to fight, green as grass
training for the glory and the adventure in a foreign land
an unexpected chance comes along
the nation we serve sent us here
arid land, mountains and dirt, a misunderstood religion
days turned into months and years
a child exploded near the wall yesterday during sunset
shoot and bombing without thinking
another day, another order to master, no time to think
the message from our masters came on a dirt hot day
we are leaving this place for good
the nation we serve decided to leave after 20 years
feeling unsound, we board a flight sending us back home
emptiness fills the neglected places
too much time to think about the war we lost, the impact
sitting at home watching current affairs
the Taliban rip down pictures of women, hide them away
the country regresses into a Theocracy
thoughts of sacrifice, honour, and pride
those thoughts are thoughts left behind in another time
these thoughts threaten my existence
my parents do not know me
I am a failure in the story of their glorified war stories
they have no stories to tell
C & K 