It’s the struggle that weakens us
while we fight for our dignities
it is the fray that swallows us whole
for we shed our skin inch by inch
behind a cause, an idea, a dream
while our lives run parallel to the destruction
that we reek upon it, but
we keep moving, struggling
falling behind, catching up
burning, shivering,
fighting, forgiving, killing, maiming
until finally we see those battle scars
on the face of our wives, and our daughters
a father tucks his daughter into bed
a husband goes home to his wife
a boy meets a girl
and each night they win
a little
peace and rest
after a hard day’s labour.