warrior child,
you carry such coldness in your veins
war-torn child,
you carry such loneliness in your bones
war-born child,
you carry such horror in your heart
warrior child,
you were born with legends breathing inside your name
and history books waiting to trace your footsteps
war-torn child,
you know better than anyone how to cry in silence for things gone by
and how to kill and kill without seeing their eyes
war-born child,
you were made to hold brawls between your knuckles
and bury old friends and old memories between your ribs
warrior child,
I was once a warrior too
I was born with bones made of gunmetal
and eyes made of muzzle flares
and a voice made of hissing bullets
war-torn child,
you and I are much the same
I am older than you
but not by much
but not by enough
you will soon be as old as I
and we will both still be warrior children
war-born child,
you and I know too well
how this story will end
how this story always ends
how this story must forever end
warrior child,
do not fear
it is they who should be afraid
war-torn child,
fear is what beats inside your heart
in the place where life used to be
war-born child,
there is nothing more frightening
than a man who has torn his own self apart
so burn your bridges, warrior child,
before someone else lights them up
so freeze your heart, war-torn child,
before someone else leaves it cold
so dig your grave, war-born child,
before someone else buries you