Our Own War - Loudon Wainwright III

Hostilities ended, nobody cared

Anymore for the war, so a truce was declared

So it ends in surrender, then there’s peace at least

Arms are withdrawn and fire is ceased

To stay in a skirmish one needs appetite

Two need desire to keep up a fight

But when appetite’s off and desire is gone

Then the fire is held and arms are withdrawn

When losses and wounds are grievous and gory

When the battle is pitched, in the field there is glory

When hearts just aren’t in it, retreat leads to rout

And arms are laid down and the fire goes out

We remember the ones who run out of dumb luck

Monuments are erected and statues are struck

But we tend to forget if and when we forgive

And the survivors survive but they never quite live

As for our own war, yes, I recall it well

Just what it was like our own personal hell

I’ve forgotten the good times, heaven’s so vague

But I remember the battles

Oh, how they raged!

When losses and wounds are grievous and gory

When the battle is pitched, in the field there is glory

When hearts just aren’t in it, retreat leads to rout

And arms are laid down and the fire goes out