A Soldier's Heart

 My name is Kyle Wooten and I am a Soldier. Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to be a soldier; and though I’ve served since I was 17, I never truly understood what it meant until I was deployed to Afghanistan.


Through the blood, sweat, and tears, I finally realized what it meant to call myself a Soldier. To me, it means that you are willing to fight for those beside you and those back home, even though it may cost you your life. The greatest honor I can achieve in life is to say that I was able to serve my God, my people, and my brothers and sisters who fought beside me. So I say to you, my brothers and sisters new and old, hold your head high and save me a seat at the table.

 
MY PRAYER
Make me as David, oh Lord, to be your poet-warrior. Help me to protect and show my brothers my faith in You.
You are the Deliverer, the Conqueror of my enemies, and my Savior. Make my body a weapon and help me to rally my brothers behind me.

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THE ROAD OF HEROES

I don’t know what had happened,

But something had gone wrong.

I had just been in the mountains

Charging into the throng.

Now here I stand, my jacket pressed,

My shoes are shining bright.

A pleasant warmth came over me

As I stepped into the light.

The narrow road was lined

With soldiers new and old.

Those who fell in blistering heat,

And who suffered bitter cold.

They all stood at attention

All along this narrow stretch.

As I marched, I wondered

“What judgment will fall upon this wretch?”

Then two, one soldier and one sailor,

Stepped out of the line.

They faced me and I recognized,

That these two were mine.

They snapped off their salutes

As I caught their eye.

These two were my grandfathers

And I began to cry.

They joined me on my march

As I reached the pearly gate.

I stood there at attention,

My chest out and my back straight.

A man approached me as I wondered

What price I had to pay.

He said, “Stand at ease, my son;

You made me proud today.”

(Written for Memorial Day, 2014)