The Soldier

The Soldier
by Steve Cope
01-31-2009
A Contest entry at P2S
Original title from Norma #2733 01-10-2009

The soldier looked to his right and saw the sun lowering.
He knew it would soon set and then the cold would intensify.
Everytime the sun set he steeled himself against the

Searing cold and hunkered a little deeper into his jacket.
On watch, there is no place to go and all atention is needed.
Looking over his appointed territory with skilled eyes and
Deft detection of anything out of the ordinary.
From out of nowhere the grenade landed,
Edging to a stop mere yards from the children
Reveling in the past few weeks of quiet and peace.

    Panic broke out amongst the children but The Soldier; out of sheer instinct; scooped the grenade up and threw it in the direction of the forest. In mid-air the explosion ocurred, and it was warm for a short while afterward.

The children cheered  because
They were saved and clambored
To and fro, thanking the soldier for his protection.

In the forest an enemy soldier cries out
And falls to the ground from the tree,
Where she had thrown the grenade.
The concussion of the blast stunned her and now

She finds herself being attened to
By the medics of her enemy.
"Why are they being kind and gentle to me?"
The girl asked not understanding,
For she so purely hated them.

The Soldier walked up to her,
Temporarily releived from his post
To attend to the ringing in his ears.
And the two just locked eyes for a moment.

The enemy soldier; this girl so fragile and afraid;
Feared the worst yet received the care she needed.
The Soldier said the one thing that
Changed her outlook, all in a single moment.

"I forgive you."
With those words the
War was over for the enemy soldier.
And she rested knowing she would not return to battle.

The Soldier; back on post;
Surveys the territory with trained eyes.
Looking to his left, he spies a sliver of brightness
And knows his duty will soon be ended,

For you see today The Soldier goes home,
His duty done and country served,
Lives saved
Lives changed all in a days service.