I once shot a man in the head,

His jacket went from green to red,

I watched as the life drained from his face,

The human departed leaving only a case.

My gaze travelled away from the mass on the ground,

I saw my actions repeated by others all around,

Each one looked upon what they had done,

Then awaited the arrival of what they had won.

Where was the reward for fulfilling their duty?

Where in this valiance was there any beauty?

Had the world improved now that it was at an end?

Had they done what was the only way to defend?

I knelt beside what had been my quarry,

I looked at him with eyes that were sorry,

I wiped away the tears that obscured my view,

I tried to explore the man I never knew.

I brought my finger to the body before me,

I felt the moisture soak out from it - now free,

I realised why the man should not be laying in the mud,

For both he and I have red blood.