Of a soldier on bended knee
A flag waves in the picture,
As daylight starts to flee.
The portraits show a moment,
That only happens thrice
For soldiers never bend their knee
In the face of tyrant’s vice.
He kneels one time, before each mission
Then bows his head to pray
Seeks the safety of his comrades
And begs for one more day.
He kneels again, in the midst of combat
And carefully takes his aim
Pulls the trigger, knowing well
He’ll never be the same.
And then at last, he kneels once more
As the bugle softly plays,
His mind is torn by a prayer unanswered
Deep tears cloud up his gaze.
Only thrice will a soldier kneel,
And break his stern defiance
Once in prayer, once in war,
And once in sad remembrance.