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In Unspeakable States

The soldier looked out To a landscape defiled, And wondered, was he in hell. Around him men lay In unspeakable states, Ravaged by bullet and shell. How could this be These men so alive Now lay there dead in the mud, His comrades and friends Had suffered and bled, Amid their corpses, he stood. He thought why not him For he had went too Over the top with his mates, Into the maelstrom They went forward as one. Now they lay, in unspeakable states. Entry for STANDARD CONTEST NO 75, ANY FORM OR NONE,ANY THEME, UP TO A MAX OF 20 LINES - Poetry Contest 16/3/2018, Placed 1st.

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Heidi Sands

Date: 3/29/2018 2:15:00 PM

This really reaches the reader deeply! Well done Gary :)

Gary Smith
Date: 3/29/2018 4:12:00 PM

Thank you Heidi :)

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 3/23/2018 7:49:00 PM

Congratulations on your win, Gary - keep up the great work! :-)

Gary Smith
Date: 3/23/2018 8:03:00 PM

Thank you Gregory :)

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 3/19/2018 9:18:00 PM

A despondency as the survivor! Congrats!

Gary Smith
Date: 3/20/2018 4:33:00 AM

Thank you Kim :)

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 3/19/2018 3:02:00 PM

This one leaves such an impact. I love it and I see congratulations are in order!! Way to go in Brian's contest.

Gary Smith
Date: 3/19/2018 5:49:00 PM

Thank you Andrea :)

Line Gauthier

Date: 3/19/2018 10:19:00 AM

A very emotive poem, Gary. Well done and congrats on your top win.

Gary Smith
Date: 3/19/2018 11:04:00 AM

Thank you Line :)

Laura Leiser

Date: 3/19/2018 9:50:00 AM

Your well chosen words captured the horror of death and war so well, Gary. Very moving poem! Congrats on your win!

Gary Smith
Date: 3/19/2018 11:04:00 AM

Thank you Laura :)

Janice Canerdy

Date: 3/19/2018 8:53:00 AM

Very moving WINNING poem, Gary! Janice

Gary Smith
Date: 3/19/2018 9:19:00 AM

Thank you Janice :)

Susan Ashley

Date: 3/16/2018 6:20:00 PM

Powerfully expressed remorseful introspection offered by your war-ravaged soldier Gary. A heartfelt and harrowing poem. Superb poetry. ~Susan

Gary Smith
Date: 3/16/2018 6:29:00 PM

How kind Susan, thank you :)

Caycay Jennings

Date: 3/16/2018 4:05:00 PM

I have felt this exact 'feel' during most all war movies, different wars in different centuries or decades, but the same feel. I know it has haunted many military survivors their entire lives. A poem that needed to be written you have have written as it needed to be. All the best ... CayCay

Gary Smith
Date: 3/16/2018 4:10:00 PM

Thank you CayCay :)