You'll Understand (Sacrifices)

A poem about Sacrifices

Early on a crisp autumn morning
In a clean and well-starched uniform
He crosses a close cut lawn in the suburbs
And approaches the door

It’s not the first porch he stood on today
And it’s not gonna be the last
But he can power through till forgettin’ time
tonight at the hotel bar.

When they answer he says Ma’am I’m sorry
but they are never coming home
They died defending our freedom from a critical threat
In a way that made some people tons of cash

In appreciation for this service,
This sacred duty
This sacrifice,

Of all they ever had in life to give
And just a little bit more

Here’s a folded up flag
You can hang it on the wall
Next to their picture
By the door.

I’m sure you understand
It was a necessary sacrifice

you see
Freedom isn’t free

and we
pay in blood and iron

Decorate the landscape
with soldiers torn and dyin’
Strong bodies
ripped in half
With spray and pray precision
Pure potential shattered
With industrial ammunition

Without war we’ll let the commies win
you understand

On a chilly Friday in December
Quiet office, cup of coffee blowing steam
Cell phone shatters the silence
Her husband’s voice on the other end was rushed

Something’s happening, he said
baby please turn on the news
the school won’t answer
I don’t know what to do

Twenty minutes later on the TV
The man in the suit said the nightmare was done
A Twenty year old broken boy with a gun
wanted to go out with a high-scoring run

And she was just another
of Twenty grieving mothers
That lost a baby to pay the unfortunate cost
Of our worthy privilege

I’m sure you understand
It was a necessary sacrifice

You see
Freedom isn’t free and we
pay in blood and iron
Don’t count the cost in kids
We see torn and dyin’
Tiny bodies
ripped in half
With blind, corrupted vision
A generation shattered
With Wal-mart ammunition

Without our guns we’ll let the socialists win
you understand

On an overcast Saturday afternoon,
Something good stewing on the stove.
Feeling every bit yourself with a fresh outfit
Streaming some trashy reality show
When you hear twelve pops from where your grandson plays
The kind that drops you to your knees to pray
The sound of bullets taxes pay for
Ricochets against every apartment door
And you’re already dead when you don’t see the toy gun
You told the boy to leave behind

And the man in the crisp uniform says
We have to inform you
The young man

was waving that toy gun
Pointed it at someone
And I couldn’t take the chance it wasn’t real
I was completely afraid for my life
And I deserve to get home to my wife
So i put one bullet through his chest
For each year that he lived.

But don’t worry,
I’ll be fine with counseling
And back on the street in a week.

I’m sure you understand
It was a necessary sacrifice you see
Freedom isn’t free and we
pay in blood and iron
Who cares if one of them
Is bleedin’ and dyin’
Dark bodies ripped in half
With paperwork, on mission
A neighborhood shattered
with government ammunition

Without the cops the criminals win
You understand.