Never Again

He said his farewells
He held her close
Watching the world pass him by
He held a rifle in his hands
And he said

Never again
Never again

He crossed the oceans
He traveled to a warring land
Watching good men die
He fired round after round with that rifle in his hands
And he said

Never again
Never again

He sat among the poppies
He slept by the wooden crosses
Watching the flags fly high
He lay in fields of red with that rifle in his hands
And he said

Never again
Never again

He left those bloody lands
He held her close once more
Watching for his brothers in the night sky
He dropped that rifle in his hands
And he said

Never again
Never again

He made a living
He loved and he laughed
Watching the world change, lie after lie
He saw a new man take that rifle in his hands
And he said

Not again
Not again

He saw the war
He held his children close
Watching battles on his television set, seeing good men die
He waited day after day for his boy with that rifle in his hands
And he said

Never again
Never again

He read the telegram
He held his family close
Watching for the flag covered coffin, trying not to cry
He buried his boy with that rifle in his hands
And he said

Never again
Never again

He went back there
He returned to remember the dead
Watching the poppies roll on, crosses touched the sky
He saw the ghosts with that rifle in their hands
And he smiled and said

Never again
Never again

Author's Note

This got a little out of hand and ended up pretty long... But I really like the story. Any feedback/criticism is greatly appreciated!

Reviews

[Austin H.]

Reminded me a bit of the Disturbed song, "Never Again". Similar context, I think.
This poem seems to run straight along the lines of the tragedy of war, on the personal level. I like the repeating parts (never again, watching, etc), since it adds a nice rhythm to the poetry. Tells a story, albeit a very sad one.
All in all, a nice little piece.