Soldiers, civilians, talking trees, horses: they're all knackered.
The first line was one that I'd thought of ages ago and saved. It decided it was ready for a poem. I have thought over the religious/philosophical thing and nearly changed it a couple of times since you mentioned it, but haven't for this reason: these are people united by birthlines, not religion or philosophy. Because they look a particular way, they are perceived in a particular way. Nobody asks to see their baptism certificate or question their stance on Kant -- they see brown skin, dark hair and enemy.
It could be worse