Sunflower Seeds

A bright yellow sunrise brings skies of blue
These sunflower seeds will need planting soon
But the old local farmer's not around anymore
They say he willingly went off to war
But what for?
I don't understand

A young man with a rifle that's too big to hold
He's only doing what he's been told
Marching for miles in the mud and the dirt
He doesn't know all the people he'll hurt
What's his plan?
Does he understand?

Now cities are falling to ash and smoke
Generals cheer for the lives they broke
As unflinching terror rains down from the skies
The young man on the ground sees with widening eyes
The blood on his hands
Now does he understand?

His orders are clear
He must shoot on sight
Anyone out on the streets that night
When there in a doorway some figures rush through
A family with children
And an old farmer too

With trembling hands the young man points his gun
The farmer yells for the others to run
With fear in his eyes he stands bravely in place
As the young man sees his own fathers face
And a bullet lands
Before he understands

Another sunrise brings spring once more
The years are still healing the scars of war
An old man returns to where he was before
Standing under that same door
Now he understands
But his heart still bleeds
He leaves behind a pocketful
Of sunflower seeds