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The Dread of Battle

Shrill whistle blew as we crossed over the wire
Charged at the Germans who opened fire 
Those who had run up ahead
Fell first; now lay dead, 
I felt fear, 
Dread, 
Death was near, 
Puddles had turned red, 
Run zig zag, my friend had said, 
Numb my mind Lord, it's all I desire 
Shrill whistle blew as we crossed over the wire.



Written 16th July 2020 
For Anderee Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Joseph May.

Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2020

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Aditi Mishra Date: 7/27/2020 4:09:00 AM Not everyone can think of pouring powerful emotions into a theme like this one and you make it seem so natural Tom. Congratulations on your win :) Blessings! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/27/2020 4:50:00 AM Thank you very much Aditi, I tried to imagine what my thoughts would be if I was unfortunate enough to find myself in that position. Tom

Lindsay Laurie Date: 7/24/2020 5:24:00 PM G'day Tom ... well done Mate. Must have been terrifying knowing death awaited the soldier - thank you Tom - Lindsay Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/25/2020 12:46:00 AM Thank you Lindsay, Can never understand the mentality of running at machine guns, The trench war of ww1 was total carnage. Tom

Robert L. Hinshaw Date: 7/24/2020 3:01:00 PM Congrats for your well-deserved win for this very stirring account of the hell of war! Glad you enjoyed the Fort Laramie write, Tom. I love the Old West and have visited many of the old forts including Laramie in Wyoming. Stay well, my friend - Bob H Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/25/2020 12:43:00 AM Thank you very much Bob, I too love stories of the old west. Tom

Robert Lindley Date: 7/22/2020 9:03:00 AM Great poetry my friend. Such bloody immense carnage in WW1.. Machine guns made zig zagging almost pointless as if a bullet had your name on it (Fate) nothing stopped it from hitting its target.. Congrats on your win-- a truly fine piece!! And a fine fav too... Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/22/2020 10:36:00 AM Thank you Robert, I agree, W. W. 1 was just carnage, zig zagging was futile with the amount of machine gun nests on the enemies defence lines, such a terrible waste of lives on both sides. Tom

Edward Ibeh Date: 7/19/2020 7:39:00 PM Beautifully rendered Andaree poem, Tom:-) Heartiest congratulations on your win in Joseph's contest! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/21/2020 9:34:00 PM Thank you very much Edward, I'm pleased you liked it. Tom

Heidi Sands Date: 7/19/2020 6:40:00 PM Very powerful poem. Excellent writing. Congratulations Tom :) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/21/2020 9:33:00 PM Thank you very much Heidi, I'm pleased you liked it. Tom

Andrea Dietrich Date: 7/19/2020 3:34:00 PM wow, you really did Andaree WELL, VERY well indeed, my friend. I loved the subject matter and how you really made us feel it. Congrats. This is truly one of my favorites. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 4:03:00 PM Thank you very much Andrea, it was a challenging but enjoyable form to write. Tom

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 7/19/2020 1:24:00 PM Did you fight in WWII, Tom? You certainly create the scene as if you were there. Congratulations on your win, my friend! Hugs, Carolyn Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 3:15:00 PM Thank you Carolyn, if I was 30 years older I might have been there. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 7/19/2020 1:19:00 PM - An excellent winning poem, congratulations so much Tom - Really deserved ... a story in a few lines ... - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 3:14:00 PM Thank you Anne, war is such a tragedy for many, it creates more problems than it solves. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 7/19/2020 9:55:00 AM Great poem my friend - I don't often look at the contests but would have liked to enter this one. I have heard so many stories from both my mom and dad - how they survived to meet was a miracle. Stupendous poem and congratulations on your win Tom. Blessings, Jennifer. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 10:20:00 AM Thank you very much Jennifer, thankfully they survived it but it was a difficult time for many. Tom

Kim Rodrigues Date: 7/19/2020 6:56:00 AM Back for congrats! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 10:15:00 AM Thank you very much Kim for your return visit. Tom

Jenna Logan Date: 7/19/2020 6:54:00 AM The reality of war is witnessed in each line of your winning write, Tom. Congratulations. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 10:13:00 AM Thank you very much Jenna, living in mud and vermin infested trenches was bad enough but charging at machine gun posts was something else. Tom

Winged Warrior Date: 7/19/2020 6:54:00 AM Congrats!! on your hearltfelt win Tommy...great entry my friend, war is truly hell...best wishes...^WW^ :o) Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 10:14:00 AM Thank you W. W., I couldn't agree more, there's nothing glorious about it at all. Tom

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 7/19/2020 1:27:00 AM Your Andaree expresses the horrors of war so movingly Tom. This is one of the best I have read in this form my friend. I am putting it into my Faves! Bravo! Congratulations on your deserving Second Place win! Blessings xxoo Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 2:30:00 AM Thank you very much Connie and for the fave, sometimes war is necessary but those fighting it must witness unspeakable horrors Hope you're well. Tom

Janice Canerdy Date: 7/18/2020 11:40:00 PM Excellent poem, Tom--a WINNER! Janice Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/19/2020 2:30:00 AM Thank you very much Janice. Tom

Joseph May Date: 7/18/2020 5:20:00 PM A story of life and death, Powerful write Tom, Congrats on your win.. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/18/2020 9:12:00 PM Thank you Joseph and also for hosting. Tom

Jan Allison Date: 7/18/2020 4:18:00 PM Do t think they realised what they were volunteering for Tom... excellent pen and many congratulations on your win :-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/18/2020 9:13:00 PM Thank you Jan, an adventure they thought and were told it would be over by Christmas. Tom

Eve Roper Date: 7/18/2020 9:26:00 AM It is a special person that can volunteer for war. Either they are not afraid of death or they feel it will not happen to them. Great write, my friend. Hugs Eve Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/18/2020 11:53:00 AM Thank you Eve, in the first world war many saw it as an escape from their dreary lives but found out it wasn't quite the adventure they had expected. Tom

Timothy Mcguire Date: 7/17/2020 9:33:00 PM Written so well I was scared crossing that wire! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/18/2020 4:45:00 AM Thank you Timothy, it must have been horror for those going over knowing what they were running to Tom

Gordon Mcconnell Date: 7/17/2020 2:21:00 PM Rather fine piece Tom, nice rhyme and flow. Hope you're well and safe, Blessings,Gordon Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/17/2020 2:27:00 PM Thank you very much Gordon, all good here and the weather is picking up too, hope you too are well. Enjoy your weekend. Tom

Gershon Wolf Date: 7/17/2020 9:35:00 AM This is gripping, Tom. Having experienced the horrors of terrorism and war, I relate totally. G.L. in the contest! :) gw Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/17/2020 10:16:00 AM Thank you Gershon, sorry to hear that you have had to experience the horror of terrorism and war. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 7/17/2020 5:19:00 AM A powerful and realistic poem that depicts that senseless strategy used at the time by sacrificing their solders for nothing! Excellent as always dearest, Tom! Blessings. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/17/2020 6:26:00 AM Thank you Demetrios, so many young lives from both sides sent to their deaths and for what. Tom

Kim Rodrigues Date: 7/17/2020 5:15:00 AM You are an amazing poet, Tom! I see this as a top winner! It can be felt! Perfect refrain! Fave! Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/17/2020 6:24:00 AM Thank you very much Kim, much appreciated and also for the fave. Tom

Caren Krutsinger Date: 7/17/2020 3:27:00 AM How old are you? I had to ask that, just for fun Tom. A beautiful job; good luck in the contest! PS I kind of did marry a German. Login to Reply Caren Krutsinger Date: 7/18/2020 2:08:00 AM The reference to Germans is why I asked how old you were Tom! Tom Cunningham Date: 7/17/2020 5:06:00 AM Only a young 64 lol. Theres good and bad in all people, only mentioned Germans as I was thinking of ww1 when I wrote it. Tom

Pashang Salehi Date: 7/16/2020 5:17:00 PM Excellent. Well penned. Thanks for sharing it... Good luck. Login to Reply Tom Cunningham Date: 7/16/2020 6:26:00 PM Thank you Pashang, I'm glad you enjoyed it Tom

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