MIRROR

What will it be like today when I open my eyes
Will it be beautiful, with blue skies?
Or will it be sad and lonely, my eyes full of tears
Will I see death and horror when I look in the mirror?

Will I remember sex and smooth skin under my hand
Or will it be mud and blood, like the last stand?
Will I think of my lady, her eyes full of love
Or will I remember the snipers, death from above?

Every day's different, never the same
Some full of love, some full of pain
I wonder what it's like for people who've never known war
I'll never know, for I'm not normal, that's for sure

I've seen too much, and at such a young age
I've seen men kill with gun and blade
Tasted the enemy's blood, when we fought face to face
Wondering if I would survive, or if I would leave this place

The years have passed, and with help from above
I've survived enough to find some love
I still remember the sight of my friend
Still see my partner, and his terrible end

I can still talk to him, alone at night
Does this make me insane, I know it's not right
I feel his pain, deep in my soul
Why did I live, why did he go?

God sent me a woman, who became my wife
He gave me a second chance, at this thing called life
He gave me sons, and grandchildren too
And that was wonderful, really cool

When I got hooked on drugs, to try to forget the pain
He let me come back, and told me to forget the shame
So why God, did you leave me the memories of Bill
Lying there in the sand, his body so still?

My heart torn asunder, my very soul ripped in half
Why didn't you take me too, strike me down with your staff?
I have to live this life, just going thru the motions
While part of me is still across the ocean

In a little country where I became a man
a place we all know, called Vietnam

    Mike Dingwell