You forget at times
How cruel war can be.
War has an excitement
All by itself,
And you are part of a group
And you feel the force.

But you forget
How cruel war can be

Until you see the graves of infants
Men hung on lampposts,
Crazed raped women
Laughing at each body
Of each dead man.

You forget how cruel
War can be
Until you pick up a mirror
And see the tears etched
Upon your broken face.