I held the heavy, martial shape and wondered what it was
And how it saw my progenitors though long-forgotten wars

It's barrel was long, stock worn and dark, but a musket it was not
And though it looked industrial, to World Wars is didn't belong

The thick suppressor made it look like a drug war ninja tool
But the coaxial plasma barrel postdated those murderous fools

It was a standard rebel arm, same as the army used
In the year 2064, during the Civil War, part two

With it the land was laid to waste and many perished then
But we won freedom by force of arms, our honor was reclaimed

We learned back then the heavy price of things doled out for free
Which we ourselves were forced to provide at a bayonet point or three

We learned that the state is never a friend, like rings from a Tolkien
tale
That freedom to live as we see fit is worth more than a gilded cage

And that it would be too late someday, the boot would grind the face
That giving up arms is giving up hope, forfeiting that fail-safe

So the war was fought and the freedom bought, with sweat and tears and
blood
And this weapon hangs by the fireplace, reminder of the price paid once