A foggy morning at Sunkoshi river, Nepal. Photo by Sohan

You may shoot me with your sophisticated weapon

But, I will fire you back with my powerful words

Because my weapon is kindness

You may want to see me broken down in my knees

But I want to see me risen back in my feet

You may want to see me weeping in tears

But I want to see me swim in a deep ocean

Because I am the hope of Veterans that defy to give up

And stand up for justice and equality for all

You may want to see me brokenhearted covered in blood

But I want to see me down in prayers

Because prayers lead to action

You may want to see me hopeless in a deep well like a frog

But I want to see me climb a mountaintop

And preach a sermon

You may want to see me silent and voiceless like an owl

But I want to see me be the voice for poor and needy

You may want to see me suffocate in fire

However, I want to see me run through the flames

Into the deep blue ocean

Because I am the ultimate hope and dream of my ancestors 

Statue of Abraham Lincoln at Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

Is it the bird or is It the air?

Can you see that I’m a man without fear?

North Dakota couldn’t sluggard me from fighting a fierce black bison

Louisiana couldn’t cease me from being a Tiger

South Carolina couldn’t halt me from being an Army Warrior

Virginia couldn’t knock me down from being an Ordinance soldier

Alaska couldn’t impede me from being an Arctic Warrior

North Carolina couldn’t dissolve me from being an Airborne soldier

Florida couldn’t scare me from swimming with manatee to scare away gator

Iowa couldn’t finish me from being a Hawkeye

No way that I could back off from Pennsylvania as I was a Nittany Lion

Bound to rule the state

Texas made me a Cowboy

While Massachusetts turned me into a mighty Warrior

Finally, Virginia made me a history lover!

Hear me Oh God as I rise through the ashes

Feel me Oh God as I travel through the fire

Feed me Oh God as I walk hungry in the sand through the desert

Talk to me Oh God as I seek the truth

Hear me Oh God as I call you for redemption

Return to the Earth Oh God as I pray for your love and compassion

My eyes are inflicted with the wound from childhood

How long will it be till I stop weeping tears through my eyes?

Answer me Oh God as you’re the only one that I fear

In my lonely life as I walk the road that you chose for me

I can see the sign of life as you uplift my heart with joy

Bringing a sweet laughter while I walk through the mountain

As you fill my lungs with cool breeze of air

I see the signs of peace in every step I take along the icy patch

Oh God fill my mind with wisdom and knowledge

As I dream of the world with peace and justice

Although I am blinded by Odysseus, sacker of cities

As I may be ignorant Veteran that seeks wisdom while I question everything

Hear me Oh Lord as I seek the righteous path

That grants me freedom and happiness

As I seek to cultivate the virtue of courage, justice, wisdom and moderation

Better to die than to compromise my principles

Protect me Oh God with your divine wisdom