Hers was the last tear
falling from her cheek.
A thousand others filled
a sea of regret and pride.
For he had died, after all,
for his country.

A soldier he, his dream to be,
lived out on a battlefield.
A skirmish never won,
he lived and died for fun.
For he had died, after all,
for his country.

–Victoria Emmons, 2017