Out of Water: Bataan

We left the barracks in mid-March,
With snow still on the ground,
Drove two days across the border,
To participate in a multi-national event,
Commemorating the World War II atrocities,
The Japanese called Death Marches.
Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen,
Were marched relentlessly across the Philippines.
Bataan Death March,
Where only the strongest survived.
Today I march for them, 
For fallen comrades,
Recognizing their sacrifices.
Freedom’s price so high, paid with our brothers lives.
Here I am, out of water, as I march through the deep sands;
Bataan Memorial Death March,
Where quitting is not my option, 
As my brothers marched without choice.
Wounded warrior, I suffered through dehydration,
Through pain in joints already injured in service to my country.
Out of water, I did not worry, for I knew;
The human body’s capability to survive,
For days on end in relentless conditions,
I marched on, to the end…


16 Feb 2015
© 2015 CM Davidson Pickett
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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A   Avatar
February 9, 2016 at 1:20 AM
AWESOME POEM
Alexandropoulou Avatar
April 5, 2015 at 12:17 PM
Out of water but never out of hope. An Ode to human suffering and perseverance. Congratulations!
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:58 PM
Thank you so much!
Onclaud Avatar
April 5, 2015 at 3:25 AM
my dad was one of those who marched in bataan as a filipino soldier.. i am touched, CM.. big congrats on your win!
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:58 PM
Thank you, especially for your father's service. Those men were the true heroes, and it was my honor to be part of the ongoing remembrance of their sacrifice. After a service injury, I met one of the survivors of bataan, and his words will remain with me forever; I was humbled as to what they endured, and learned to never, ever give up, no matter the circumstance...
Chutani Avatar
April 4, 2015 at 11:58 PM
CM, perseverance is key to human success. Congrats on making us relearn it again with this top win. Mohan
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:49 PM
Thank you Mohan, and you are correct, it cannot be said any better than that...
Lindley Avatar
April 4, 2015 at 9:56 PM
History is not taught in schools like it once was... WW2 hardly covered at all and when it is its just a cursory look. Ive read so much on that death march in my life, have many books on it. Fantastic write.. Congrats on your win .
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:47 PM
Thank you, it was my honor to have met some of the survivors of the WWII death marches, and deeply humbling to have them thank me for my service. Such an honor to be part of their ongoing remembrance, and I hope to keep their memories alive for as long as I walk this earth...
Roper Avatar
April 4, 2015 at 8:19 PM
Congratulations on your wonderful win and a 7. Have a wonderful Easter Sunday
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:43 PM
Thank you so much! I hope your Easter Sunday was blessed, peaceful and full of joy with family and friends in abundance...
Richards Avatar
April 4, 2015 at 5:15 PM
We can never be reminded too often of the sacrifice and relentless hardships to keep our freedom. What a honor to share this placement with your pen, and the service in which you paid tribute in this poem.
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:42 PM
Thank you so much for the words of support. It was my honor to serve, and my honor to share this placement with you as well.
Lawless Avatar
April 4, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Thank you for this and for your service. I work at a High School and have "educated" a few students and teachers about this horror of WWII. It is appalling how few even knew of it as much of history is now "purified" so as not to "offend" anyone.
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:41 PM
It was my honor to serve, and I felt it my duty to commemorate such a horrific time in our collective history. I thank you for your words of support, and for continuing to "educate" both students and teachers of the reality of a non-politically correct REAL history!
Harper Avatar
April 4, 2015 at 2:22 PM
Very strong poem, CM Davidson Pickett, enjoyed the rich details of that day and your insightful use of the theme, congratulations on your win! Thanks for entering this very popular contest, we had very many wonderful contributions.
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
April 8, 2015 at 1:39 PM
Thank you for the giving us such a creative theme to use for inspiration. I am honoured to be selected in first place. Thank you again...
A  Avatar
March 15, 2015 at 3:24 PM
C.M., this is deep...SKAT
Pickett Avatar
February 16, 2015 at 7:01 PM
Johnny and the Puma would be proud of this poem...For they would remember....Sempre Fi baby...
Fleming Avatar
February 16, 2015 at 3:33 PM
just "sevened" it. :) john.
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
February 16, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Thank you John!!! :-)
Fleming Avatar
February 16, 2015 at 3:28 PM
A "seven"! God bless you all and everyone...May they find everlasting peace! Amen!! :) john.
Davidson-Pickett Avatar
February 16, 2015 at 3:38 PM
Thank you, John. I participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands, NM, in 2013. On previous occasions I had met some of the survivors, and had even been given a book written by one survivor with an inscription to remind me that my wounds were not enough to stop me...
Fleming Avatar
February 16, 2015 at 3:26 PM
As soon as i saw that title..."Bataan"...i knew i had seen it mentioned somewhere before. I have just re-informed myself of the grim facts: Horrendous!!! Unless a person had experienced the brutality of it all first hand then i would say that you just could not comprehend anything about what it must have been like!! To all those who suffered on the "Death march to Batten" i say this: Without your ultimate sacrifice, and millions more that fought with you, i would not be here as a free man today!
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