The tide of our fathers, violent and flowing
How you tried not to lead us so astray
The napalmed memories, forever glowing
Haunt the dawn’s misty start to each new day
Life’s redeeming waters, flowing on the delta patrol
How the sweat beaded, endlessly dripping and tense
Fear of the sunlight fading, losing the grip on our soul
Time would tell us, the night’s flashes never made sense
One must run through the jungle of ticking time
How we avoided the trip wires of pain
Only to lose the innocence of our prime
Long discarded medals, can’t hide the stain
So many of us etched, for all to forever see
Peace has overtaken the sandbags of struggle
Some watch the tears, and simply decide to let it be
Others return, forever into the jungle
By J.S. Campbell © 2018
