I used to date a beauty Queen
Now I see her in magazines.
When the Army came calling
they took away my ragged, faded jeans
and gave me their Army greens,
put me in a barber’s chair
and took away my hair.
They took away my school certificates
and put them in a kit bag
Taught me how to kill
and say “Yessir”.
They make me walk all the way with 50-kg luggage and 20-pound guns
then feed me on Army biscuits and water.
They send me away into the jungle;
make me walk in the desert
and sleep in a body bag.
They sent me to the battle
killed for them
now they wanna kill me
because I survived—
Mama, I can’t take it no more!
