the Road to Samawah

I sit, buildings blazing
tank parked near a tree
for repair

cheese bacon MRE's
not my Mama's cooking
my heart's
at home in my prayers

giving all I can give
to this endeavor

i-rack-ees kill quick
and they don't care
about my home in Kintucky
and the family warm
in my prayers

my heart's at home in my prayers

fighting those who don't believe
in living freedom on the streets
takes care and understanding
is so damned demanding

my heart's at home in my prayers

drove down the road to Samawah
with gifts for the home
gave i-rack-ees blankets
to keep their children warm

my heart's at home in my prayers

on to the Tigress rode the weary
wary of murder, rape and scorn
came riding up upon us fast
dust flying 'round them
like a storm

my heart's at home in my prayers

fierce, skin dark from the sun
AK's hanging on their arms
thought we were invaders
were startled by our guns

my heart's at home in my prayers

we told them why we came here
to settle an old score
and give to them
what we have won
in centuries of fighting wars

my heart's at home in my prayers

they seemed to reason well enough
and understand our plan
then they blew us up inside
our trucks and our vans

my heart's at home in my prayers

a force this large they should not challenge
there's not a way for them to win
except in our own doubt of purpose
as in the VietNam

they settled down
and went their way
in our eyes not civilized
and yet their ways would make us see we weren't always wise

my heart's at home in my prayers