Small Pain In My Chest

Michael Mack

The soldier boy was sitting
calmly underneath that tree.
As I approached it, I could see him
beckoning to me.

The battle had been long and hard
and lasted through the night
And scores of figures on the ground
lay still by morning's light.

I wonder if you'd help me, sir,
he smiled as best he could.
A sip of water on this morn
would surely do me good.

We fought all day and fought all night
with scarcely any rest
A sip of water for I have
a small pain in my chest.

As I looked at him, I could see
the large stain on his shirt
All reddish-brown from his warm blood
mixed in with Asian dirt.

Not much, said he.
I count myself more lucky than the rest.
They're all gone while I just have
a small pain in my chest.

Must be fatigue, he weakly smiled.
I must be getting old.
I see the sun is shining bright
and yet I'm feeling cold.

We climbed the hill, two hundred strong,
but as we cleared the crest,
The night exploded and I felt
this small pain in my chest.

I looked around to get some aid
the only things I found
Were big, deep craters in the earth
and bodies on the ground.

I kept on firing at them, sir.
I tried to do my best,
But finally sat down with this
small pain in my chest.

I'm grateful, sir, he whispered,
as I handed my canteen
And smiled a smile that was, I think,
the brightest that I've seen.

Seems silly that a man my size
so full of vim and zest,
Could find himself defeated
by a small pain in his chest.

What would my wife be thinking
of her man so strong and grown,
If she could see me sitting here,
too weak to stand alone?

Could my mother have imagined,
as she held me to her breast,
That I'd be sitting here one day
with this pain in my chest?

Can it be getting dark so soon?
He winced up at the sun.
It's growing dim and I thought
the day had just begun.

I think, before I travel on,
I'll get a little rest
And, quietly, the boy died
from that small pain in his chest.

I don't recall what happened then.
I think I must have cried;
I put my arms around him
and I pulled him to my side

And, as I held him to me,
I could feel our wounds were pressed
The large one in my heart
against the small one in his chest.