Walk the Soldier’s Mile

 





I heard you call to me from Heaven up on high,
You called out my name, and then you gave a sigh-
And I began to pray, and aloud I did pray-
Then I began listening to the words you would say



Walk in the imprints of the soldier’s mile,
carry the weapons, hear their trial.
Wrestle with the burdens of a hero’s load,
Travel blindly- down a war stricken road



Don’t turn your head; Don’t close your eyes,
Don’t pretend you don’t hear their cries-
Don’t silence the pleas, of new orphaned child,
Don’t turn down the volume, to make it mild.



Scribble the pain and write the fears,
Pen your memoirs in a hero’s blood, while wiping tears-
Take your vacation on a once battled land-
Run your fingers through the bloody Iwo Jima sands



Watch the sunset from where a soldier lay dying,
And you must do all of this, without ever crying-
Walk the soldier’s mile, and then try and refrain-
Try to muster a smile, through the hurt and pain.



Stand in a jungle, where the air is so thick,
With the smell of decaying bodies, without being sick-
Smile at your best friend and look him in the eye,
Knowing any second, he’ll probably die



Leave your friend face down, then turn and walk away,
Just make sure you remember, there was no time to pray.
Walk the soldier’s mile, then pen your journey’s thoughts,
Then maybe you’ll understand, the real battles that were fought.



I heard you call my name, from Heaven up on high,
Now I understand the reason; Ah, the reason you would sigh-
And I began to pray, and Aloud I began to pray-
If you need to talk, I’ll be more than glad to stay.



© Lisa Hilbers
12/17/2002