his screams rage higher than the heavens
his heart is near destruction
as all his body fails
a man in white begins to fight to save his life

his life is ending
he feels the grasp of death
but now a hand much colder pulls
the soldier back

heavens warm link is broken
like the child torn from his mothers wome
he coils like a tortured snake lying on the ground
he rithes as if shot again

his mind thinks back to days of joy
when life was oh so pure
and the rivers flowed and life had just begun
but now reality bites

he is drawn back to the world he hates
though he has no longing the world begins to take
a whole new shape
a shape of pure destruction

as hell becomes reality
so does the pain
his final plea is that they
let this old soldier die

Matthew Routledge

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/let-the-old-soldier-die/