All My Heroes Died Young

You should have seen the way she went,
A blinding flash and now
All that's left is a crater.
We watched from the side of the field
As she strapped on the explosives,
Wrapped herself into them
And waved to us.
We didn't wave back.

You should have seen the way the soil
Billowed out around her, the patterns
Burnt into the barley, how quickly
The gold turned to black.
It took my breath away.
Hers too.