War

Whence diplomacy fails mankind.
Soldiers amassed with patriotic duties to fulfill.
Some willing, some underaged, some desperate.
Weaponry and vehicular production overdriven.
Military strategies drafted that await execution.
Prayers flood the heavens, farewell letters penned vigorously.
None prepared for what’s to come, sweet talk is all they have.
Come dawn, they depart for the frontlines.

Unto the battlefield where the enemy lies.
One step forward and all hell breaks loose.
Gunshots pierce, artillery’s shrapnel far-reaching.
Mangled corpses sprawled for families to mourn.
Commands roared but not followed for fear fuels the men.
Chaos ensues ruthlessly with no end in sight.
Death and blood saturates the gruesome battlefield.
Oh dear God, do you hear the cries of sorrow?
Oh dear God, do you see your land blood-brimmed?
Who will you aid when good and evil are indiscernible?

Countries conquered, engulfed by terror and atrocities.
Air raids never ending, bomb shelters becoming the second home.
Civilians contemned, slaughtered like pigs, experimented on like rats.
Prisoners of War starving to the bones as they labor restlessly.
Anguish ever present but naught can be done to rid it.
Oh dear God, do you witness the atrocious brutality?
Oh dear God, will you show them mercy and end their misery?

Homeward, anxiety ravages mercilessly like a plague.
Will my beloved return for college?
Will my darling return to love?
Will my dearest return to tuck me in?
Answers undetermined for life preaches uncertainty.
Politicians stand unscathed whilst comrades lay crippled.
In the perpetual bid for peace, the world drowns in blood.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Duet Avatar
June 24, 2017 at 11:51 PM
Fantastic poem, Shawn. Amazing imagery so "spot on". Please check your soupmail.
Harris Avatar
June 24, 2017 at 5:14 PM
Fascinating picture of war. What triggered you to write such a poem. My curiosity has to ask.
Tan Avatar
June 26, 2017 at 6:15 PM
I've always been intrigued by war, especially WW2, how people could truly commit these atrocities even with our high level of intelligence. I have friends and family who lost loved ones way back in the Japanese Occupation, even though I'm fairly young, so I had a surge of motivation to write this tribute to those who fell during the war, good or bad, we are just humans after all. :)
Vyas Avatar
June 24, 2017 at 9:22 AM
Very nice lines,good poetry standard
Tan Avatar
June 26, 2017 at 6:15 PM
Thank you! :)
Bellion Avatar
October 3, 2016 at 11:33 AM
Very impactful, loved the questioning bits. Especially liked, 'Politicians stand unscathed whilst comrades lay crippled'; perhaps it might have been better to meld this into a more stronger image for the poem to end on a better note (Eg. Uncrowned kings/peasants of present). Nice work!
Tan Avatar
November 21, 2016 at 8:37 AM
Extremely sorry for the late reply, haven't had much time to log in here to check due to my life issues. I'm very thankful that you appreciate my work! I like your suggestion, I should try it next time but in this case it is meant to be gloomy unless I'm misinterpreting your comment, which I'm guessing I'm probably am haha.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace