A small secretion gave him away,
the tough marine who had yomped in a day
from San Carlos to Stanley, served in Helmand,
but now was defeated by the tiniest hand
that gripped his finger and wouldn't let go,
he swallowed hard, no feelings could show
the chink in his armour, that hard carapace,
as that small secretion rolled down his face
from eyes that looked down, completely undone
by this scrap of humanity, his firstborn, his son.
Categories:
helmand, baby, birth, feelings,
Form: Rhyme
Joe’s triathlon consisted of a 750m swim,
A hand bike race which covered 20km,
And then a wheelchair race for 5km grim:
Joe collapsed on the Rio finish line fen.
But he came sixth, a good Royal Marine,
Stepped on an IED in Helmand in 2008,
Both legs amputated, a chair did him fine,
He’s the only w/c user with UKSCA gait.
He first competed in Ironman UK triathlon,
In 2011, and In the London Paralympics,
He carried the Paralympic Flame icon,
In the opening show, up in the air - antics.
2013 at the ETU Para-triathlon Euros,
In Antalya, Turkey, and Joe won bronze,
2014 and the next ETU, Kitzbühel pose,
And Joe took deserved Austrian bronze.
In Rio back in 2015 at the ITU Worlds,
Joe stole 4th place, and in Penrith 2016,
At more ITU Worlds, Joe’s silver cords,
Were awarded from a 2nd place steam.
In Lisbon at the 2016 ETU Euro Champs,
Joe came home 3rd taking bronze position,
And in French Besançon his bright lamps,
Were bronze lamps again, composition.
Categories:
helmand, sports, strength,
Form: Quatrain
Helmand hit army captain Nick hard in October 2009,
Where he stepped on an improvised while on patrol;
He was 27 years of age, in the Royal Engineers fine,
But a medic saved his life, but not his legs to control.
His rehabilitation programme took him into Para sport,
Where he became a Trunk and Arms canoeing rower,
And at Guildford he first rowed in April 2011, of purport,
Then he joined the GB rowing team with pair power.
He did take a medal, bronze, at the world cup, Munich,
But in 2011 October at the World’s they finished sixth;
However, they redeemed things at the 2012 hot pitch,
When they came fourth in the gritty revenge of the sith.
Nick’s from Stockport and will be going to Rio, affirmation,
He’s been helped by Help for Heroes veterans program,
The Sports Recovery Program which gave him definition,
And has done hand-bike charity events to save for ’em.
Categories:
helmand, boat, body, health, sports,
Form: Quatrain
dusk falls
war and often
stars above watching men
hide fears held close behind a gun...
move out.
Categories:
helmand, war,
Form: Cinquain
four star circus
side show of war,
thugs on a hillside
another killing floor,
greedy men squabble loudly
gulping down the poor,
coalition vacuole
futility galore,
sobbing children in the dust
silent tears like rain,
generation lost to time
born in tragic pain,
greener valleys stretch on out
blot out the crimson stain,
sons and daughters of the fist
hope for love in vain,
win the peace, slogans fly
bloviating head,
metal coffin rocky graves
feel hobnail tread,
darker cabals plot it out
empire must be fed,
marching legions to the borders
muster in their stead,
parched throats choking on a crust
bitter unslaked hate,
plowshares beaten into swords
blood debts won't abate,
who can say what life is worth
as condolence payment made,
trembling fluid, parchment hospice,
eyelights slowly fade,
sunlight melting slowly
moving through the dusk,
bloodshot eyes see clearly
at the future's empty husk,
dirty smiles, broken grins,
polluted tonic for our sins,
old hob just sits and grins.
Categories:
helmand, war,
Form: I do not know?
Resplendent in their uniforms
Led by the band of bagpipes and drums
They march - home at last
The musicians in their uniforms of tartan
Playing " there was a soldier a scottish soldier"
They march
Proud faces of white and brown
Looking happy without a frown
They march
The police stop the traffic
For these brave men to march through
They march
The people cheer their soldiers home
Welcome home they shout to them
They march
Some people care not and push their way through
Forgetting the trauma these lads have been through
They March
Its Glasgow and The Scots Guards are home
George Square will never be the same
They March
They have been in afghanistan
Fighting for what, for something insane
They March
Helmand Province has been there home
6 long months in No Mans Land they roamed
They March
Remembering the ones that have died
Came home earlier in a box instead
They March
Welcome home lads . We salute you.
Home at last
Link to video of the march through in Glasgow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVxb2dXCXTY
Categories:
helmand, soldier,
Form: Rhyme
Sparks and Ashes
A child was just born at Helmand
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
His soul flew "zero to infinity"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
An old grandpa held a piece luck wile
Eating out a crested bread;
Grand ma beside, sewing a torn rugged apron;
The daughter-in-law, for a shower in a bucket of water, entered;
The son went out hoping, something to eat for night.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
Eying the land where living is a miracle;
Dying is the only wish for wounded --no doctor no drugs.
Angels are flying over head
To take the souls rest in peace
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Live of leave your soul, for, the angel lurks
In a land wrapped up with ashes and sparks.
Categories:
helmand, fear, loss, war, drug,
Form: Blank verse
Here I am
In Afghanistan
To protect the people from the Taliban
But
The Imam
Laughs at me
Says
Stupid man
This
Is your Vietnam
You’ve been here now
Near 10 Ramadans
And
Still you cower
In your armoured vans
Categories:
helmand, war,
Form: Free verse
In rugged mountains of beige
A mission has been set
To rid a faction of rebels
Where conflict will be met
Eradication
To return a country to good
Dispose of the unwanted
For the feud to conclude
Near the Helmand River valley
A major offensive is set
U.S. Marine push
Juniors and Vets
Its not even daylight
As i radio them in
Colleagues of three
Hereford's unique fighting men
In our covered position
The Taliban are sighted
Car bombings, slaughter
Rotor blades we invited
A distant sound
Of birds of war
Bringing Marines
Bullets, hard gore
From the valley rises
Western army brawn
In formation flight
Blackhawk Dawn
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/war-5.php
Categories:
helmand, death, places, war
Form: Quatrain