His Last Good-Bye

He waved his hand to wife and child As tears welled from each eye; The train whistled and soon moved on, As he waved last good-bye! The war for which he was ushered Would leave ten-thousands dead; He had to leave for country’s sake, And kept his level-head. He would not see his beloved’s face, Nor talk to his one child; His hand that yearned to touch them both Would pull the trigger wild. The hand he thought would pat shoulders Was meant to kill with ease; He cursed the day he heard that war Had once more threatened peace. A soldier’s life seems lovely when Peace-time prevails on earth; When war erupts, his life’s at stake, He curses his own birth!