"My Gate Wasn't Hit"
By Levi West
Day after day
Most missing sleep
I stood with my brothers and sisters
My life and theirs we both keep
We did the best we could
Saved as many as we could
But one fateful evening we learned the true meaning of brotherhood
My gate wasn’t hit
My boys are fine
We stood and watched as the CASEVAC rolled by
No one said anything, No one batted and eye
Boys my age
Altered beyond recognition
Battered and bloody from some twisted groups obsession
My gate wasn’t hit
My boys were fine
But why couldn’t we retaliate
Why couldn’t we cause our enemies to die.
I can take the riots
I can handle the masses
What I can’t handle is seeing those flag draped caskets making their passes.
My gate wasn’t hit
My boys aren’t fine
We are all just kids trying to make sense
Of these twisted times
Levi West is a Marine Corps Infantryman, photographer, musician, and writer. You can follow him here. Explore his photography here.
This week on the Savage Wonder podcast…
Ava Aston is an award winning Independent Recording Artist. She is the wife of a U.S. Air Force Veteran and the daughter of a former Purple Heart National Service Officer.
Ava is a passionate supporter of U.S. Veterans, Active Duty Military, Fire, Police and First Responders, as well as animal and humanitarian causes.
Born and raised in upstate New York where she was classically trained, Ava draws from a broad range of influences from Frank Sinatra and Doris Day all the way to the Goo Goo Dolls. Ava's latest release along with all her other music is available on iTunes.
In addition to performances at the White House Christmas Celebration, the Grand Ole Opry, Ava has sung the national anthem for the New York Mets, Giants, Rangers, Knicks, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Lakers, and Nashville Predators.