In the clearing stumbles the soldier
Uncertain of location or direction
Explosions in the distance ring out
But the sound of bullets has faded
'Back to my unit' is the first thought
'Must not linger' reviewing a map
'Where have I come?' retracing steps
'Maybe some rest' sitting wearily down
Labor and toil exact their payment
Sleep wins the battle against the will
A fitful slumber overtakes the soldier
The battle will wait, it goes nowhere.
Waking comes in a fright
Lost in a foreign land
Bewilderment vanishes
Memories of war rush in.
Scanning the clearing, all is quiet
The soldier refreshed stands up
Weary of war the dedicated soldier
Prepares to resume the mission
At the clearing edge a dull glimmer
Beckons the soldier and delays departure
'What is over there?' the soldier wonders
Draws near with caution and vigilance
A wall of stone stands its watch alone
Nothing to mark; nothing to defend
Worn and weathered but with great strength
It continues to stand never wavering
Draws close to inspect
Wall is filled with marks
Set in rows and columns
Not wall, but monument
The words are in a foreign tongue
Clear though is their meaning and intent
Tribute to honored war dead of the past
Overcome and lost by the ravages of time
Forgotten war
Remembered no more
Forgotten soldiers
Forgotten sacrifices
Reflecting on the fallen soldiers
Remembered by the forgotten wall
Was it worth the fight and sacrifice
For a cause long since lost to history?
The soldier wondering
About past and future
Then marking the present
Marches back to war