Soldier
Condemned is my past,
For all the terror I brought.
The nightmares won't go away
No matter how hard I've fought.
I think about my past,
My thoughts running at full speed.
Terrible things, we the soldiers, have done
Not caring for others' needs.
We just did what we were told.
Getting paid, giving no care,
Following our orders,
For helping the Jews was dangerous and rare.
It wasn't as bad at first, then
Their buildings getting pillaged and burned
It was awful still
More evil gears started to turn.
The things I have done
My heart is filled with regret.
I can't go back in time;
I can never repay the owed debt.
I told myself I did what I had to
To feed my family...my kids, my wife,
But I could have fed them another ways.
I didn't have to end someone's life.
All the other solders were filled,
Filled with anger just so great.
I always really wondered why,
Why I was the only one who didn't hate.
I couldn't stand the way things were;
I wanted it all to change.
But my rank was so low
Changing was so out of my range.
The worst things was obvious
The Jewish getting killed for their religion and race.
Hitler was evil and wrong
Bringing Germany such disgrace.
Again, I tell you so
That is my past, my story, my life
My heart is so filled with sadness,
Unwanted grief, unwanted strife.
I wish it never happened,
The past has taken its toll.
For this was said,
By my heart and written by my soul.
-GG