The Civil War



After four years of brother against brother

A nation, unfairly divided and smothered

Would count up the men on each side lost

Six hundred and twenty thousand lives tossed



Including two hundred and fifty eight thousand greys

Three hundred sixty four thousand blues ... arrayed -

One in every five soldiers fighting for the Union cause

One in every four soldiers died for Confederate sores



And, at the end, it was discovered more died from disease and sickness

Than actually died on the battlefield ... a waste and a wickedness ...

A ratio of four soldiers lost in this so very empty way 

To one lost firing one against the other, over the days



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

5:35pm Memorial Day, '99