Home » Poems » John Cervone » When Will My Nightmare End

When Will My Nightmare End

When Will My Nightmare End? You left behind your fathers and mothers; you left behind your husbands and wives. You put on hold, your very lives. You traveled to a land and stated You have come to help all those slated to be victims of a regime outdated. At night you drove ahead, into a nightmare filled with dread. Into streets filled with danger. Completely wary of any stranger. To what end you asked in pain? What in the world can we possibly gain? The only answer you could find was in your heart and all you left behind. As you drive these haunted streets the sound of gunfire so close it speaks. It speaks of dangers still unknown, it screams of evil to atone. This land, in truth, is death and sand it is truly a "NO man's land" By; John Cervone This is dedicated to all the National Guard Troops who served in IRAQ.

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

Kelly Crenshaw

Date: 12/30/2013 12:55:00 PM

Thank you. i like it. And God bless our men & women in the military: and bring them all home soon, and safely

Skat A

Date: 12/26/2013 12:30:00 AM

Hi John, , Hope you are enjoying the holidays, -- Your first poem on the soup is excellent for the readers!! Stopping by with a nice, sweet Welcome to Poetry Soup. Wishing you the best when it comes to your poems. I hope you get to meet all the nice poets around here. Starting with me. SKAT :-) Please drop a hello and tell me a little about yourself if you like. I would like to be your newest poetry soup "FRIEND". Hugs* SKAT"

Carly Larkin

Date: 12/22/2013 5:38:00 PM

"You have come to help all those slated to be victims of a regime outdated. " this line was my favorite, it was short to the point yet still remarkabley powerful. good job! my only suggestion would be to maybe split the poem up into stanzas

John Cervone
Date: 12/23/2013 6:19:00 AM

Thank you. It's funny but I never realized it myself that it is an interesting line. The Iraqi people, the man and women in the street, regular people, not politicans etc, were very simple folks. Like most of us they were just trying to live a peaceful life. Sadly, it is impossible to help people by just using good intentions. People know when you are patronizing them and that is basically what we do. We never try to understand them.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 12/19/2013 12:31:00 PM

- Welcome to P-Soup, John ! - Nice to read your first poem here.:)) - Hope you will have much pleasure to be with us. - Wishing you good luck - have a nice day! - (Comment on the poetry of others and they will comment on yours). - My first greeting to you from Norway. - I will come back to read more.... another day :) - oxox / /Anne-Lise :)

John Cervone
Date: 12/19/2013 1:26:00 PM

Thank you Anne. I am sending you my first greeting to Norway. Have a wonderful Holiday.

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 12/19/2013 9:27:00 AM

very sad and deep, wish I knew the answer, John , A nice warm WELCOME to poetry soup. Dropping by to invite you to my latest contest. You will find the contest page on the top left hand side* -Looking forward in following and reading your poetry. Hope to hear from you soon. You will enjoy the community, we are one big happy family. (Drama & Love. LOL) ~ Take Care!! From: your new poet friend @-> LINDA <-@

John Cervone
Date: 12/19/2013 10:15:00 AM

Hi Linda. I wrote that poem in Baghdad about 51/2 years ago. My job was to drive thru the city from 7 to 7 driving war reporters from one palce to another. Baghdad was a very spooky city at 3 in the am. Only military vehicles on the roads and choppers flying too and fro. I've been back now for 51/2 yrs and wrote a book about my time there. War is not something to be taken lightly as our leaders seem to feel it is. have a nice Christmas.