Boot-Camp "90"

You barked out every order,
Your voice resounding through the years
Piercing through my little hands
And pounding in my ears.

You unleashed with war like anger,
The weight of all you lack.
Each stone to fortify your heart
You heaped upon my back.

And I bore this grotesque burden
For miles and years and wars,
'Till I lost my life in battle
Not defending mine but yours.

And every time the surgeon came
His scalpel blade I parried
For I could not differentiate
Myself from all I carried.

A Prisoner of every war;
I could not recognize
The consequence of fighting on
But through another's eyes.

A gentle, woman boldly
Cast aside my sword and shield.
And liberated from their weight
We left the battle field.

And now I'm learning who I am
The knowledge set me free.
I will not bear that extra weight
I'll carry only me.