Steadfast

He stands straight and tall
Shoulders at right angles
Cast from strongest,
cheapest metal
duty
determination
in his hand-painted face
His acrylic uniform
is crisp, clean
confident
fresh from the box
He's ready to serve
protect and defend
the boy
who thinks the soldier's just one
of millions
(which he is)
and not only that,
that the courageous toy
is damaged goods
(which he is)
Where there's supposed to be two
there is only one
his missing leg
fuels him to try harder
be stronger
tougher.
to prove he's not so damaged
as everyone thinks,
to prove he's better than
all of those millions
of whole soldiers.
But to the pretty girl
in the paper dress
and point shoes
he already is.