Stephen Kilmer | + Follow Poet |
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Remain

Stillness in the night
Silhouettes of Zulu’s
Move along the ridgeline
Monkey’s howl
And men cry
The darkness has no friends
Evil specter of death
In the banana trees
Fruit bats on the wing
Sweating in this jungle
I have but one goal
Remain
Lock and load
Weapons
In the hands
Of teens
Machetes 
Teeth
Cut limbs
From torso’s
Lying on the cracked
Jungle floor
Seeping loneliness
Into the heart
Of darkness
That bears no witness
To the soul

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Laura Breidenthal Date: 10/27/2013 11:02:00 PM This is very disheartening. Sadly true. There's not a lot we can do - but we hear rumors all the time...unfortunately a lot of those rumors are true. Great impact poem. Always, Laura Login to Reply Stephen Kilmer Date: 10/27/2013 11:05:00 PM Yes it's a scary world out there. I shutter to think what it must be like to live in a world of fear and war...~Kilmer

Kathryn Collins Date: 10/16/2013 9:02:00 AM P.S. Kilmer - I didn't mean your poem was simple - I just hate the use of the non-vernacular so often that's found in some poems. Login to Reply Stephen Kilmer Date: 10/16/2013 6:38:00 PM No problem. I didn't take it that way. thanks for taking the time to read my poetry.

Karen Anglesey Date: 10/15/2013 10:32:00 PM Quite a gripping tale. Frightening within well crafted imagery :) Login to Reply Stephen Kilmer Date: 10/16/2013 6:39:00 PM There are thing going on in Africa that are scary. The sooner we step up to plate and realize that the better. ~Kilmer

Kathryn Collins Date: 10/15/2013 10:18:00 AM Dear Stephen - You captured me at first with the Zulus on the ridge line. Then so much more fright came with the teens lock and load. I live in Newtown, Ct. and shivered at your words. This poem is wonderful in its progressing and use of simple words. Bravo! love, Kathy Login to Reply Stephen Kilmer Date: 10/18/2013 7:01:00 PM Kathy, I appreciate you kind words and the fact that you get my work. Sometimes it seems that folks don't understand what I am trying to say. But you got it. And that makes our interaction more important. Thank you. ~Kilmer