Steven J. Newton

BLOOD BOND

The sky was the color of blood
My brothers sitting in a hole
And they were of a kind
Kevlar sticking up just enough
To keep a round from hitting your spine

Smoke and flame and oil fires
Mortars spitting their death
Eyes that hurt and lungs that wheeze
With blood floating on the breeze

One brother crying, another dying
Noise that had gone white hot
Blood flowing in a hole in the mud
The smell of hot meat thick in the air
Someone said, “shoot a flare”

Screams and panic, no I think not
Just Soldiers and Marines dying where it’s hot
Legs and arms just lying around
Lord I hope that’s not another round

Soon the noise was gone
And so were many of my brothers
Black and white and red and yellow
All their blood made me mellow

I asked the Lord to post them all
Someplace where it’s cool or fall
I know He answers prayers for blood brothers
Because you see I believe the Lord loves soldiers