After School

they taught us to bury our heroes
and live with the belief
that everyone will die a hero.
they taught us to draw our swords
and consider not what we kill
but what we allow to live.

they taught us to find a dark place
in our heart,
to forget the world we come from;
a world of tears and despair,
of lack and dotting hunger,
of polluted rivers and poisoned creeks,
of oil spillage and devastated ecosystem.

our world where the brave die
and the poets hide themselves
in bloodied lines

they taught us to remember 
the muted silence of the graveyard,
to write the history of our people
with the sword.
they taught us to escape death
by dying for our fatherland,
to buy freedom with our life and line,
to fight for the belief
that every day we live can be better.
THE OIL MULTINATIONALS!
.........they taught us too much.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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Suzadail Jr. Avatar
September 7, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Remember the Kingston Trio and the lines from one of their hits, "When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?" I retired a Navy Chief but I was one of the lucky ones who had never seen combat. We floated outside of Santo Domingo in 1965 but never went in. Truthful poem. Vince
Z. Avatar
June 7, 2009 at 5:45 AM
your first verse is perfect, absolutely amazing
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
June 3, 2009 at 7:49 AM
Congrats again K K, Truth seem to be lost in the translation in Washington. We need to start doing the teaching. Vince
Tugaff Avatar
May 31, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Nice work and congratulations on your poem being featured this week. Ernilando
Smith-Johnsen Avatar
May 31, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Wow! k k iloduba jnr, That was a great, meaningful, and strong poem. Congratulations on having your poem, "After School" featured this week. Keep writing. Always, Dane
Moreno Avatar
May 3, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Nice work and congrats on passing the first round...Raul
Brown Avatar
April 10, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Congratulations on your poetry making it into the semi finals. Wishing you the best of luck in the finals. Love, Carol
Chircop Avatar
March 23, 2009 at 2:56 PM
congratulations,a great piece of work and intenselt described,the oil multinations ow so true,you deserve being featured
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
March 19, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Congrats K.K., on "After School" being featured. Vince
Townsend Avatar
March 16, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Congratulations on being featured this week. Smiles from Lolita
Winter Avatar
March 16, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Congratulations on your excellent poetry being featured this week! Love, Shar
 Avatar
March 15, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Powerful poem with much for the reader to think about. Congratulations on having it featured this week. Wishing you ongoing success with your writing. Karen
Mason Avatar
March 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Excellent write here K.K. and a tragedy of our times. Congratulations on your writing being selected to be a feature this week at the Soup!
Esquire Avatar
December 22, 2008 at 5:00 PM
K K, They certainly did teach us well and as YOU say "To Much" Again I Welcome YOU to POETRYSOUP YOU are a Welcomed Addition and I'm sure YOU will Meet manyGreat POETS and Make a lot of Friends Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring YOU and YOURS Health and Prosperity...HG
Wiggins Avatar
December 13, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Hey it's me again. Thanks for the comments but I'm far from a daddy's girl. Apart of me just wants him to be safe..I don't know why... *Breana*
Wiggins Avatar
December 13, 2008 at 4:30 PM
I like it...deep.. * Breana*
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