How must it be
to walk towards the enemy,
towards the shells?

To feel the joyous pain,
excitement
mingled with fear?

To see a comrade
fall by my side,
to hear his screams?

To see the newborn
enter this world,
to hear the silence?

To see his agony and terror
as he pleads for me
to end his days?

To see the anguish of a mother
holding close
her lifeless child?

Silence of the baby
Silence as his father screams