Soldier of God

“For God gave His only son,”

this we understand,

not as a child under the gun,

but whispered wishes upon clasped hands.

We hold these to be truths

because they are removed from us,

history soothes

allowing comfort and trust.

Someone, somewhere

has given that held most dear,

a sacrifice we selfishly try to share,

one many humans revere.

But if it were you, you

who must offer,

no, must ask your child to do,

would you?

Could you see,

in all your passion and poverty,

the greater we,

the presence of deity?

Well, I, speaking only for myself,

could see nothing but my only son,

my single source of wealth,

my only rising sun.

I will not call him to arms,

to feed the family,

to wrap himself in bombs

and do so happily.

I am simple and selfish,

basking in the light of my son,

I have but only one wish:

he’ll never know anything of being the one.