Columns and Ranks, Fog of War Intermingled
Become a
Premium Member
and post notes and photos about your poem like Mark J. Halliday.
This was an intermingling of two poems I wrote last year: Columns And Ranks (which was specifically about D-Day in World War II), and Fog Of War (which was about war in general and not ever really know what you'll confront in battle). For the Intermingling contest sponsored by Craig Cornish.
Standing straight in columns and ranks,
Heads newly shaved by the barber,
Carrying guns loaded with blanks:
New recruits after Pearl Harbor.
(Our foes wait in their well-defended lair,)
The Generals inspected troops,
(Imagining that they’ll stay safe and warm.)
Standing straight in columns and ranks;
Afterwards they broke into groups,
(All my soldiers ready their arms to bear.)
And marched towards the ships’ gangplanks.
(Bugles sound: Battalions! Companies! Form!)
They boarded ships with guns and tanks
To England, the Atlantic crossed.
(Our siege cannons thunder; smoke mists the air.)
Standing straight in columns and ranks,
(While thinking of barricades each must storm,)
They’d free Europe at any cost.
(Once over the walls, we’ll know what’s in store.)
Allied troops endured dire losses;
(It’s hard to see through misty fogs of war.)
Gaining a foothold up the banks.
Heroes sleep beneath the crosses
Standing straight in columns and ranks.
Columns and Ranks (Quatern 9-25-2014)
Fog of War (Ottava Rima 8-19-2014)
by Mark Halliday / WarriorPoet
Copyright © Mark J. Halliday | Year Posted 2015
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.
Please
Login
to post a comment