Toy Soldiers
By Jane
The lad marched toy soldiers up and down the counterpane in sham battles and skirmishes- indoor games for a day of rain. Pretend guns rat-a-tat amid the cannon's boom, bloodless, deathless victories rang through the room. At battle's end the soldiers were carefully put away, still shiny, bright, and stalwart to fight another day. The lad, now a man, leads his platoon over the battlefield, flesh and blood soldiers with real guns to wield. Every man a hero, his heart set to win, some to be struck down in the bullets' din, some mortally wounded to lay deathly still- battles and skirmishes to take an enemy hill. The lad, now a man,sheds tears for those in his platoon who have paid the highest price, their life cut down too soon, for they are not toy soldiers, carefully put away, not shiny, bright, or stalwart to fight another day. Written November 11th, 2001 © on Nov 11 2001 06:52 AM PST 0 • 10
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"The lad marched toy soldiers..."