Gary Smith Poet Sonnet

On the Crest of a Wave

They went to war on the crest of a wave,
Their country behind them, warriors all.
The flower of our youth, cocky and brave,
No hesitation, they answered the call.

Now stood in the trenches knee deep in mud,
Comrades lay dying just over the top.
A few hours before those soldiers stood here,
Some were still moaning, they wished they would stop.

Their turn was coming, the whistle was nigh,
They gritted their teeth, awaiting the call.
Their duty to go, their duty to die,
Shrapnel and bullet would near kill them all.

For those who came back, life wasn't the same,
They had seen dying, suffering, and pain.






Entry for
War Sonnet Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Mark Massey.
1/1/19

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Eve Roper January 19, 2019 at 11:03 AM Gary, a great descriptive and well written poem that arouses strong emotions. Congratulations on your win!:). Hugs Eve ~`* Gary Smith January 19, 2019 at 11:36 AM Thank you Eve. :)

Ed Morris January 19, 2019 at 10:01 AM This one really grabs me, Gary. I like it a lot. Gary Smith January 19, 2019 at 10:04 AM Thank you Ed. :)

Carolyn Devonshire January 19, 2019 at 9:57 AM I saw Mark's comment below and confess I didn't know this was about World War I. I thought it might have been Vietnam (with the muddy trenches) or even the Civil War. It matters not, for war is war and the casualties climb in each one. Well penned, Gary. Congratulations on your win! Gary Smith January 19, 2019 at 9:58 AM Thank you Carolyn. :)

Charlie Smith January 19, 2019 at 8:47 AM Well done Gary, congratulations... Gary Smith January 19, 2019 at 8:49 AM Thank you Charlie. :)

Funom Makama January 5, 2019 at 10:36 AM New, new, new... Its beauty, its expression, its creativity and its flare... This is breath taking and this year will definitely give us the fulfillment we seek. Wonderful write full of envious sentences... Gary Smith January 5, 2019 at 12:07 PM Thank you Funom. :)

M. L. Kiser January 2, 2019 at 8:12 PM Quite a thought provoking sonnet; war should be something that the human species has risen above. Do we ever really make any progress or is it just a myth, we dream about? Well penned. Gary Smith January 3, 2019 at 1:36 AM Thank you M.L. :)

Connie Marcum Wong January 2, 2019 at 2:50 PM War ruins the lives of so many who return. Indeed their lives are never the same. If they are sensitive souls it leaves them with PTSD. You captured not only the hell of war but the suffering of the aftermath so brilliantly Gary! Bravo! I hope this gets a high win! xxoo Gary Smith January 2, 2019 at 3:18 PM How kind Connie, thank you. :)

P.S. Awtry January 1, 2019 at 5:01 PM Some were still moaning, they wished they would stop.--this is powerful, because you have stated the facts so clearly. Excellent. Gary Smith January 1, 2019 at 5:03 PM Thank you P.S. :)

Aqua Marine January 1, 2019 at 3:48 PM This is a excellent write, Gary, on the duplicity of war. I read Wilfred Owens poetry as a child, and it left me horrified. This depicts very well the brutal truth of what faced naive youngsters in the trenches. Well done, and best for the contest! Gary Smith January 1, 2019 at 3:52 PM Thank you Aqua Marine. :)