Poppy red

Out of death comes a poppy red

like the blood the soldiers bled

their sacrifice still shows

In the red flowers that grow

where they fought for our freedom.

Someone will always stand up for the oppressed

we are blessed

because service men and women still do this today

and they bleed for our freedom

we will always need them,

unfortunately in this flawed world,

to make a stand

if you see them offer them a hand

because they have given

not just their service but their lives

in one form or another

and they deserve your respect.

We are Boys

man up?
When did our yearning to protect and serve
and keep people safe?
turn into rage and wanting danger?
We are no stranger to tragedy
avidly wrestling with our desire for violence
was it taught by society and our father, are they keeping silent?

Soldiers growing colder each day
to the god of man we pray
to teach us a better way.

Anger our, “man up” emotion
lost in its devotion
we need different role models action man won’t cut it.
As we destroy ourselves fighting and wrestling with the anger inside
as we collide with the alternate worlds we hide
inside the potential we have
and are told to bite at ourselves
as “man up” is the only thing we hear
we disappear from the innocence
we held dear
the blood stained tear
gives way more often to anger and fear.