Mars

We laid our names to rest Along the dotted line We left our date of birth And our history behind We were full of life We could barely hold it in We were amateurs at war Strangers to suffering We made our families proud But scared at the same time We promised we’d be safe Another lie from the front lines Our backs against the wall We’re surrounded and afraid Our lives now in the hands Of the soldiers taking aim Our questions ricochet Like broken satellites: How our bodies, born to heal Become so prone to die? Though time is ruthless It showed us kindness in the end By slowing down enough A second chance to make amends As life replayed, we heard a voice proclaim: “Lay your weapons down! They’re calling off the war On account of losing track Of what we’re fighting for” So we found our way back home Let our cuts and bruises heal While a brand-new war began One that no one else could feel Our nights have grown so long Now we beg for sound advice “Let the brokenness be felt ’Til you reach the other side There is goodness in the heart Of every broken man Who comes right up to the edge Of losing everything he has” We were young enough to sign Along the dotted line Now we’re young enough to try To build a better life To build a better life