This One's For Time

The attack wasn't much of a surprise
maybe to others
but not to me
and it was supposed to be

I've spent the last few months awaiting that day
psyching myself up
it was inevitable
but I was prepared
this is what we train for

They say war is Hell
I don't believe it
Hell is eternal - constant torment
war is eventually over
you go home one way or another

It is more like a kareoke bar
brawls over nothing
broken hearts
all to the tune of
"I Will Survive"
being belted out by drunken soldiers
hourly
almost like clockwork
It's the number one most requested track
mere survival

Those who aren't as strong break down
and are lost
in time and space
and sometimes it's unexpected
a kill shot from out of nowhere
you may be able to deflect the bullet from piercing your heart
but not your soul

As the cliche goes:
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
but you are only stronger
because part of you is dead

All the drills in the world cannot prepare you for that
no matter what happens
you are never the same as you were
when you went in
bright eyed and innocent

and each time, every time, it's lost

I waited for the attack
prepaired and ready
or so I thought
a fleshwound still hurts
and there's always a bit of suprise

I guess I was never truely ready
but I survived

Hey, Hey.