Drawbacks To The Foreign Leigon

Drawbacks To The Foreign Legion

It is dark and chilly on the desert tonight.
To hold this fort, we must stay and fight.
I am on duty. Walking on the walls.
Watching for movement out in the drawls.

This is our 49th day we have been here.
We cannot let the enemy near.
This is the only oasis for 50 miles.
If you control the water, you are all smiles.

I cannot remember what it’s all about.
I just follow orders and never pout.
The Foreign Legion is the best of the best.
I really love my desert colored vest.

It took us many days to get here by camel.
I was so tired & thirsty, I started to ramble.
We were told to hold this fort at all costs.
To lose this fort meant all was lost.

Whoever controls the water controls all.
We have the only water, from what I saw.
I saw a skeleton face down in a dried up ditch.
Life in the desert without water is a bitch.

Yet, I don’t get it? What is there to protect?
Water is the only thing—– I would bet.
Water in the desert is worth more than gold.
A person will give all for a drink, I am told.

But, if you’re not in the desert, water is around.
You can find it by just digging in the ground.
So, why come to the desert where water is rare?
There has to be something else here, I’ll swear.

They don’t tell us of low rank a thing.
Fight for the glory is all they sing.
I will do this, if the enemy gives us a try.
But, I sure wouldn’t mind a piece of the pie.

To the victors goes the spoils, they say.
That could be better than a pay day.
But, you don’t get rich in the Foreign Legion.
If you try, you could be hung for treason.

So, I’ll just keep doing what I do best.
Keep an eye out for all the rest.
Fight when the time is at hand.
If I survive,—– I will be ‘the man.’

——————————–R. W. Johnson—–(2016)

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