I wish I could save you for once.
You, who fights to preserve my way of life.
The irony isn’t lost on me,
I see the obvious tragedy:
If not for people like me,
No need for people like you.

Willing to fight, without fear, without pause,
Ordered by the green and the greed,
All because a heart so strong,
And so bold, has to belong to a soldier,
Of a war that’s gone on too long.

Time creeps along, leading to
Fallen friends and opportunities missed.
Everybody changes,
Rarely for the better,
And maybe this is vulgar, unnecessary, and presumptuous
-Maybe I’m just pissed –
But you’re too good for this shit.

I pray happiness isn’t the price of valor.

Jessie Gutierrez

Author’s Note: I wrote this when I was 18 and a good friend of mine was about to depart on his first tour overseas. He’s home safe now but I still remember.