War Poetry

High School Soldier

When you came to earth you belonged to us,
We raised you to think like us,
We chose you a saviour for you to believe in,
Follow orders or be damned,
We provided an education,
We told you why we were right,
Kicked you around your whole young life,
And sent you off to our war to fight,
Oh don't be ashamed,
Everyone's a pawn in someone's game,
Yeah, I'm not so brave,
Every night you're planning your escape.

High school soldier,
It's all over,
Yearbook rock-star,
Quarterback sweetheart,
High school soldier,
It's all over,
Yearbook rock-star,
High school soldier.

The rush that comes from killing,
When your neck is on the line,
Civilian life is not so thrilling,
You're best out of your mind,
And you're mortgaged off and sold,
Taking pills of many sizes,
What doesn't kill you,
Doesn't make you strong it paralyses,
Oh I'm not ashamed,
Everyone's a pawn in someone's game,
Yeah, I'm not so brave,
Everyone's a pawn in someone's game.

High school soldier,
It's all over,
Yearbook rock-star,
Quarterback sweetheart,
High school soldier,
It's all over,
Raise your glasses,
High school soldier.

And all the roads I've never tread,
All the words you've ever said,
All the visions of the dead,
Lay there warm inside your head.

By Josh Doyle