Three Men Went Off to War Together

~o~

Three men went off to war together,
bright grimness in their every steady tread.
Dark optimism never known to weather,
with such they faced the bloody road ahead.

One was taken by a sniper’s bullet
His comrades wept but shed no tears to see
For though they would not openly admit it
Each thought “Thank God, at least it wasn’t me!”

The second fell beneath an en’my bomb
Naught left to bury, his friend moved bravely on
Amidst the dark, this one thought brought him calm,
“At least I live, though they be dead and gone.”

But silently the souls of those who fell
breathed, “Happy we! No more that living hell!”