acceptable losses
acceptable losses
to stand upon a battlefield after the last engagement is done
a litter of debris machine human and unknown mixed in soil
all the signs of a master crafter wonders which side has won
lacking common sense or acumen stark naked the end of toil
count the dead wounded or missing compile careful numbers
these are the acceptable losses as prices paid need to be born
to be anointed with a blessing disturbing the sacred slumbers
as comrades pound down crosses the lambs have been shorn
a certain ratio of heroes and cowards awards medals ribbons
are strewn across the proud breast ignoring those empty eyes
parades marches and glory showered a missing limb is hidden
suck in the gut expand the chest listen to the speeches of lies
on silent wards machines breathe cool morphine dulls the pain
sacrifice these deaths to receive this finite and temporary gain