Letter From A Soldier

• Lauren Eisentrager, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2011

To my dearest family, I write to you from here,
To tell you that I miss you, to tell you that I fear.
I fear for those who suffer and I fear for those who die,
The terror on their faces, it makes me want to cry.
You are the only people I wish to write to now,
For you always seem to love me, and I really don’t know how.

Today I saw a broken man in agony and pain,
His eyes were cold and empty and I knew I was to blame.
I never knew the journey here would turn my life around,
But now I’ve seen my victims dying, falling to the ground.
I know you will be so upset at what I’ve had to do,
I only came to make you proud, I did it all for you.

So now I write this letter that you may not ever read.
Just to know that you all are safe is all I ever need.
Though now I hear an uproar, but it’s still too dark outside,
Surely they have not returned, I have no time to hide.
Please, oh please forgive me if I die out there tonight.
I love you all with all my heart, for you I’m here to fight.