Men In A War

Suzanne Vega

Men in a war

If they've lost a limb

Still feel that limb

As they did before



He lay on a cot

He was drenched in a sweat

He was mute and staring

But feeling the thing

He had not



I know how it is

When something is gone

A piece of your eyesight

Or maybe your vision



A corner of sense

Goes blank on the screen

A piece of the scan

Gets filled in by hand



You know that it was

And now it is not

So you just make do with

Whatever you've got



Men in a war

If they've lost a limb

Still feel that limb

As they did before



If your nerve is cut

If you're kept on the stretch

You don't feel your will

You can't find your gut



And she lay on her back

She made sure she was hid

She was mute and staring

Not feeling the thing

That she did



I know how it is

When something is gone

A piece of your eyesight

Or maybe your vision