Half Mast

A calling that must be obeyed--
bloodied and broken he lies,
the battlefield he makes his home,
fallen like a gladiator of Rome,
hearing his brother’s last cries--
with a bullet in his heart he dies.

Oh the artist he could have made,
even Picasso would he surpass--
a gentle brush stroke brings life,
instead he sleeps by his knife,
all the medals he would amass--
his bloody world of iron and brass.

There was music in his soul--
a prodigy like Mozart in his youth,
his name would live on for ages,
as his composition floods the pages--
then we ask what is really uncouth,
taking innocent lives or concealing the truth.

A more fortunate man digs a deep hole,
the last few pages of a journal revealed--
as Vienna in the time of Shakespeare,
he could never really find his place here--
death upon words that would have healed,
here lies the warrior poet in an open field.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2010



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Date: 5/15/2010 12:39:00 PM
thank you for the comments, I appreciate it. (I was on allpoetry.com and just made the switch, I have about 121 poems to post, I understand that people may look them over and want to comment, I just want to transfer them all, so I know they'll be safe. Looking forward to reading everyones work! Marcello C.
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Date: 5/15/2010 12:36:00 PM
An artist called to battle -- such an irony that one so sensitive has to take up arms, Marcello. I'm grateful Amy posted a blog to draw our attention to your work. If you space out your postings (perhaps a few each day), people will have more time to read them. Welcome to Poetry Soup! Excellent skill is revealed in this poem. Best wishes, Carolyn
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Date: 5/15/2010 12:07:00 PM
This deserves some serious recognition. BTW- Welcome to Poetry Soup. Keep writing, you have an exceptional talent.
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Date: 5/15/2010 11:54:00 AM
I don't know who you are... but this was absolutely amazing. A 10... going into my favorites.
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