June 30, 2005
kid
you are just a kid
you look grown up
but you are just a kid
there s so much you want to see
but you see no way
and you are bored
it starts with the need for purpose
a bleak outlook for the future
then a commercial comes on tv
selling adventure
you are stirred
you can be a hero
you can be good
now you re in training camp
getting discipline
being programmed
don t kid yourself
being programmed
who s kidding who
then you re off in a foreign land
it feels that fast
the decision was made
long ago
war is good for politicians
but good has little to do with it
it s interests that matter
so you fight for interests
you fight for what you don t really understand
but you owe them now
you have no choice
you are not free
and not fighting for freedom
you are just fighting
told to kill
you think to yourself
there has to be a better way
don't let that thought slip
hold onto it
it is freedom
fight for it
but you traded the freedom you had
for the structure that you didn't have
that you craved
one free choice made
and it stole so many liberties
so you are what you know
what did they teach you
what have you learned
but thinking does you little good here
it's kind of too late
you are in the desert of war
you look around
very little grows here
a barren waste land surrounds you
the sun is a blasting point of light
you dare not look for long
just shoot a squinted glance
it sits over a ridge of sand
and your military machine rolls by
but it kind of follows you
your mind drifts to the good times coming
you get some r and r soon
going to have some fun
and have some drinks
open you up a bit
something you can t even do back home
because you are just a kid
you think you re grown up
but you are just a kid
you have so much more to learn
the idea of getting drunk still brings a smile
something you'll grow out of
there s a local girl too
she's kind of sweet on you
maybe
mom would not like it
she would not approve
your mood dips
then there is an explosion
like the sun just spit at you
you are on the ground
the blast is ringing in your ear
you re arm doesn't hurt
but it's not really there
your heart sinks in your chest
your chest heaves for air
you hear rifle fire
slightly dulled by the ringing
but coming closer
you start to crawl away
you just want to get away
anywhere
please make it stop
please take me away
make it go away
you're fighting for your life now
suddenly you're flipped over
there is a rifle in your face
and a face you've never seen before
two dark points of anger
then it s gone
your interests are gone
your future gone
and you were just a kid
yah you didn't look like it
but you were just a kid
you had so much more to see
you were good
I owe you answers
I am sorry
now some people are thinking
something's not quite right
you re a hero
but something's not quite right
you didn't really want this
you just wanted structure
you wanted to feel alive
this is not good
don't ignore this
it isn t necessary
we all have to know
it isn't necessary
there is a better way
Author: Benjamin Rouse
Posted on June 30, 2005 09:56 PM