Combatants Poems | Examples

List of Member Poems

Premium Member Will Hegseth Know No Mercy?

Yesterday…
As a cherubic child, 
do you have grand dreams, Pete,
of becoming, when older (but not wiser),
famous world-over (as a war criminal)?

Today…
“No quarter, no mercy,” you say.
“Punching them while they’re down,
as it should be” and with 
“no stupid rules of engagement.”
To “provide quarter” ensures safety
of all combatants who surrender,
who lay down their arms,
with their hands in the air.
“No quarter” means to take no prisoners,
to execute on the spot all those vanquished,
without mercy, without justice, without due process
(like blowing-up Venezuelan boats),
a war crime by Geneva Conventions,
and war crimes got Nazis hung decades ago.
Yet now you brag about committing war crimes
while promoting reckless, endless war?

Tomorrow…
Years to come, on Judgment Day,
the cosmic Courtroom is full
of the formerly famous mighty
as well as those “following orders.”
Please take your seat, Pete,
next to jealous Nazis.

Ballad of Argo

Ariston of Argo
_____________________________________________

Appease the peoples. Stand on those merits then such astound folk from all genres and all walks of existence.Appease the people, a man's pride is his reputation. The resume is earned in such dignity. A traveling men is a stranger to strangers what familiar to him is the work he has earned to do. Then what is done yeilds the means to his prosperity. This she calms the shores to the oceans, might storms batter and bruise; the storm over the prettiness of tomorrow. Applaud the audience. Intro's to the contest. Stands the combatants. Wrest ye oh wrest ye , the engagement.Challenger to challenger. Champion to champion.Man to man! Applaud the performance, but he who wrest best and endures, is he who wins. The other one is complicated by defeat. Memories oh memories might I remember the win, and brag like I never had, appease the people!
_____________________________________________
Views of this and it's content
Is shared by both combatants.

The Double Tap, September 2nd, 2025

They said the sea bore traffickers —
black hull beneath moonlight,
a streak of smoke, a thunder-flash,
the first strike: eleven lives erased,
one boat, swallowed by waves.

Then the water stilled. 
Survivors clung to splintered wood,
two souls drifting in the gloom — not combatants now,
just bodies, gasping hope.
And then: a second thunder. 
Another flash.
The sea closed in around them.

So ends the last breath.
No trial, no verdict — only fire and silence.
The orders came: “destroy the threat.”
But what counts as threat — when the hull is broken,
the weapons gone, and only fragile flesh remains?

In the log of war they write: “enemy eliminated.”
In the ledger of sorrow they mark: 11 lost — 2 more.
The sea remembers. 
The world watches.
And beneath the midnight water, innocence drifts,
as witnesses to a crime unnamed.
That was a double tap.


Premium Member SEED FOR THOUGHT

He lays motionless
Amid the browning leaves
his tiger striped coat
More than a disguise

The bird feeder
Drew the combatants
A swaying dance floor
Scattering its bounty

He would wait
Stragglers would come
Eagerly anticipating
A last call

He would provide it

Premium Member Reason's Out-of-Season

     What has become of reason
     Seems it’s completely out-of-season

        A tiny push, an unintended shove ~
        Today’s combatants take off the gloves

Bound by belief

Some still say repentant combatants can’t change,
Though thought to be tamed, they tread a thin track.
When many men mock them, madden, and malign,
They charge with chained choler, yet sworn they stay still.

Fighting foes find few among people preaching peace,
Before battles, they brood, bound by belief.
For futures frame fates none should tether with tears,
While miscreant multitudes menace, unmoved.

Yet years yield younger youths yearning for clear change,
While some soldiers still battle before bold chiefs,
Who wait with well-wrought wisdom, woven in their hearts,
And teach these truths to teenagers in tents.

They need no news anew to nourish their truths;
They tell them to teachers teaching timeless tales.
Some still see storms of sorrow shaking them,
While we wait, they torture their truths with tears—
Torments that mar mortal minds with mournful wails.


Premium Member The Aged Combatants

Their fists were of furious intent,
But backs were too aged and bent.
It wasn't the seizing,
But rather the wheezing,
That both to the hospital sent.

Premium Member Brainwash

Brainwash

My pawns are carved from the ivories
ripped from flesh are the tusks 
I need to have agency,
my moves I look forward
to in any direction 
through hearts I may pierce
a game of thrones
when I win the board it's clear
wrists bloodied from the combatants
my  treasured knights toss
their plated platinum gauntlets 
not for the queen of queens
nor a worthless king
but for forcible indoctrination to induce 
to give up basic political, 
social, and  religious beliefs 
and attitudes and to accept 
contrasting regimented ideas

Folk Lures

Anunnaki verses the Nephillians
up next....stay tuned in
action like never before!
Welcome back:
the combatants are in the ring!
A stalling tactiac by
Mussumotto
of the Annunaki.. all while
Vallis destractes
the ref!
Ring announcer two...Geniunus on his part
watch this...
chockblock!
the big guy is down.
Big guy all these guys are
huge!
A.#2.. Huge but this guy right

here can wrestle!
He can Move around in there
like
Bandez the Magnificent

he is one of the best tech wrestlers
active in the pro's
right now.
You don't have to
beleive me just watch!
 Bandura is great too!
Chunking foul hook
backdrop!
this guy is specail!

Premium Member The Shadows Lie

The shadows lie
Deep in the valley
Crossed swords of battling timber
Contortionist combatants
Struggling to reach a sun
Bobbing and weaving
In their midst
Nature’s mother
Caring for all

Gaza

Gaza is a burning house,no end in sight. 
Diplomacy is a water moccasin .
Israel maims their victims- a horrid plight
Bitter is a rank lime ,this war a no-win.
The Nerthus folk  shout Gaza is not right.
Benji's far right politics surely a stinking sin,

Stop the maelstrom  Now !Give peace as an olive branch 

Benji's war talk to Congress -he is such a liar.
Biden sends troops to Isreal to fight.
AntiDems and the 'cons both conspire.
Risk is a slick road- its American might.
Palestines anger is a raging fire.
No Gaza cease fire that is in sight .
Judgement  is Lady Liberty-comes for all
 The guilty combatants finally will fall

Stop the maelstrom  Now !Give peace as an olive branch 

I spread the news using X and Substack.
I am just one man. I do the best I can.
I spread the news using  Tribal too .
All of Humanity  could stop this fire.
 Either all live as one State with equal rights.
or as two States equal else perish together.

Stop the maelstrom  Now !Give peace as an olive branch

The Professional

Sports Wresting
They sought a style of wrestling
Something legend were made of
Crisp moves showing each combatants
Abilities
Move for move
Move and counter move
Submttive and  non submissive 
Contestive rule enforced grappling
Blow for blow showing ahworld each
Competitors stance
Allowing to complete to riddle
The frustration of awkwardness 
Smoothlines
Punch and counter punch
Move and counter move
Graceful exercusion allowing
Each combatants talents to be showcased
Winners defined by each stipulation
Wrestling
Pure and simple
Professional wrestlinbeyond the specticaul in in the midst of belonging
I cling to love:might should shield me
In every realm I am he
Who is champion
Might ah- world see.
I speak my name
Oh glorious
Crowned or uncrowned
In God we Trust

Civilian Casualty

Civilian casualty 
All wars are bad, but wars can be stopped 
if there is will seek peace, which there is not
the civilians in Ukraine must suffer more.
How many non-combatants are killed in this
Russian versus NATO and the USA we don’t know 
but the number of dead seems relatively small
when so much has been bombed to destruction.
It appears to me that weekly, more
Palestinians are killed by the so-called IDF than
Ukrainian civilians.
But this toll is met with silence since Israel has
been sanctified by Brussels by no other than
Ursula von der Leyen in her horrible speech
absolving Israel of any guilt.
But what else are they expect from this corporate
Fascism the EU has become.

Premium Member Worrisome

Although some seem unconcerned,
    Finding little fault or fight.
My fears are seeing exponents,
    In the equation of wrong and right.

When opposing views are fundamental,
    The roots of truth spread wide and far.
While stretching realities fabric, to a
    Conforming figure, and liar.

The conflicts cover the landscape,
    From the highest point, to all beneath.
And the battles are often bloody,
    As those combatants are losing teeth.

Does our humanity find some clarity,
    Within this fog of discontent?
Or does it fall victim to the smoke,
    With no insurance to pay the rent?

In all my years before, these many
    Worries were never reached.
Yet my hopes will seek survival,
    As justice sanctions, those impeached.

Just To Inform You That the War Is Due To Expire On

Dear Ukraine, I am sorry to have to inform you
that you must keep fighting and dying.

Dear Russia, your options are to die or kill.

We have arranged to end this unfortunate conflict
in 5 years’ time on May the 8th.

If there are any folks left by then
may they at least know
that the American war machine
and its military industrial complex
have added much wealth to their coffers,
and have made great technical strides
in the deadly arts of selective destruction.

Yes, it's quite true that most Americans
could not find Kiev or Moscow on a map,
but the general public are most ‘gong ho’
about all this madness,
indeed, most seem sublimely unfussed
about the very real possibility
of a looming nuclear holocausts –
now that’s what we call patriotic!

Please be assured that our politicians and pundits
also seem ever willing for you combatants
to sacrifice your sons, mothers, wives, and daughters
until democracy, freedom, and the American way
are restored somewhere.

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