Something for the religious folk to ponder

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Time to Die

by Elmer Hake

The pillbox was half buried in the ground
At Utah beach it was the only one around.
At the blasted door on a bench just inside
Sat a German soldier looking like he had tried
Maybe to surrender to someone outside
And he wasn’t fast enough and so he died.

But the Lord is my shepherd I fear no foe
For he leadeth me where ever I go.
Our path up hill was marked by taped lines
On both sides were hidden mines.
While over head the shells whine.
And silence the cry’s of maimed and dying.

Above the beach head in an open field
We learned what a mine field can yield.
Yes the Lord is my shepherd he leadeth me
Through the minefields of Normandie
He causes me to look at my comrades and see
Their fear of death and hear them plea.

Yes my shepherd leadeth my men and me
Inland away from the dangerous sea.
And he maketh me to lay down in strange hedgerows
He shelters me from mine enemies blows.
He wipes my tears and calms my woe’s
And leads me to where the battle ebs and flows.

Yes, the Lord is my shepherd he leadeth me
Into the path of mine enemy.
And he causes my comrades to fall down and cry
With failing sight they gaze at the morning sky
And lift up their voices and ask God why.
Have I displeased thee, that I must die.

Mine shepherd can’t you hear my pleas?
Can’t you see me crawling on my knees?
The enemy that’s watching across the way
They have the same God to which I pray
And he hears their voices in the same way
Forget them God and hear what I say.

Mine Lord death waits just ahead for me
His bony fingers is all I can see.
And his icy breath chills my spine
Mine Shepherd put thy hand in mine
And lead this Soldier until I find
The love of God I left far behind.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.