One Man's War

I didn’t see it coming.
It landed by my ear.
The loudest thing I ever heard,
and now I cannot hear.

And oh the silence scares me.
I miss the sound of shells
and bullets passing by my head.
My eyes begin to well.

The others are all lying
arms and legs awry,
I wish I could get out of here,
can no-one hear my cry?

And now I see them coming
towards me through the mire,
their lips are moving as in prayer
but no, they do not smile.

I don’t know what they’re saying.
I see emblems on their shirts,
their angry faces close to mine
while I writhe here in the dirt.

Their weapons are all pointing
towards me as I lay
in the debris of my fellows
that died here on this day.

I don’t know if I’m speaking,
I can’t hear my own voice.
I try to say I’m wounded
and I didn’t have a choice

They don’t seem to understand me,
their language not the same.
I’m scared misunderstanding
will make me lose my brain.

And then, as one, they’re fallen
And lay there on my friends
I lose all feeling, my eyes close
And there my own war ends.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 8/14/2014 8:31:00 AM
Kaye, I'm not sure how many people actually comprehend the horror of war. I lost friends, and some that came home were not the same for a very long time, and probably never really will be. People need to know. Thank you for a dose of reality. Excellent write. It should be published. Jim
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Date: 8/11/2014 3:23:00 PM
Lovely poem. I love how it flowed.
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Locke Avatar
Kaye Locke
Date: 8/12/2014 9:53:00 AM
Many thanks David.
Date: 8/8/2014 11:43:00 AM
There is an awesome and awful sincerity, simplicity of emotions and human meaning in this fine poetry Kaye. A dismemberment of body from soul, of conflict from cooperation. I deeply respect how you dealt with the audio visual in this intense write. J.A.B.
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Locke Avatar
Kaye Locke
Date: 8/8/2014 12:27:00 PM
Thank you so much for your kind words Justin. Best wishes, Kaye
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