The Cost of War

He was an 18-year-old volunteer
who swore that when he signed up, he wouldn't end up here.
In a six-foot grave in the shallow earth
with a date of death almost the same as birth.
And an epitaph that reads shorter than his name
as the rest of the soldiers try to keep their faces straight.
But after looking at his mother crying out to the Lord
our flag lost a star as the cost of war.

The house phone rang a little past eleven
"Will you accept the charges, a collect call from Heaven?"
"Hey, ma, don't worry, I'm through the Golden Gates.
There are no guns in Heaven, all the saints are safe.
I know when I left home, you wish I could've stayed,
but you need to stay strong, my little brother is on his way.
Now it's time for me to go, God's calling for me,
He wants to introduce me to his son, J.C.
But you know I'll always be looking down on you
oh, and one more thing ma, I love you."

She hung up the phone and held back the tears
the pain is unbearable, it will sting for years.
The only thing that keeps her heart at a steady pace
is that her son is safe now in a better place...