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Best Poems Written by Eric Bradshaw

Below are the all-time best Eric Bradshaw poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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Details | Eric Bradshaw Poem

Why I Fight For This Country

It’s foggy
I see people in the background
Running back and forth
But I can't make out who they are
 
I walk closer to see who they are
It looks like a girl
I get closer, she starts to run
Time for the chase, a chase to see who it is
 
I see a house, she runs inside
It’s a big blue house with a large front yard and a white picket fence
I knock on the door to see if anyone’s home
I walk in and in the house the fog has followed me in
 
I hear creaking foot steps coming from upstairs
I slowly walk up and stare at the wall
Its picture of me with an unknown family
A son, 2 daughters and a beautiful wife
 
I’m standing in the background in my navy whites
Where is this place, who are those persons?
Whose house is this?
Where are all the people?
 
I make it up stairs and see the children’s room. 
Daughters. It looks like twins, twins sleeping in the room all tucked in
The fog is slowly clearing, I’m getting confused
What life if this, whose shoes are these?
 
I walk further down the hall,
The next room is his.
The son in the picture,
Full of trophies and figs.
 
He looks like a sports jock
How many trophies he has
He’s sleeping with his shirt off
But still tucked in like a kid
 
I say good night
And slowly close the door
I feel this is natural
As I see his night light turn on.
 
I continue with my journey
With every step the fog clears
I see the master bedroom
And take a peek whose inside
 
I see a women, her back is turned
The women in the photo but can make out her face.
I can hear her laugh
My heart it pumping
She says to me "you’re finally home!"
 
Sounds like an angel sing
Who is this woman, what is this feeling?
She has her faced turned to her shoulder, like she wants to speak
Still can’t make out her face, its very mystique.  
 
I walk closer, I see her ring
Could this be the love of my life?
I get a little closer to see who she is
I trip and fall down 8 feet into the rhib
 
I’m on a small boat in the water splashing. 
Was I dreaming, or did that happen?
 
It’s the life I dreamed,
What I wish I had.
I fight for this country 
So everyone else can have
 
The dream that I wished for
Everyday I wake
I gave up my dream
So the whole world can take it.

Copyright © Eric Bradshaw | Year Posted 2011



Details | Eric Bradshaw Poem

Watch

So quiet
Not a sound
Watching the water
As it sleeps though the night
 
A dark sky
No stars in sight
The city lights
But all persons sleep tight
 
A man
Standing alone
Talking to god
As if he was right beside him
 
Watching the waters
To be sure no enemies near
1 man standing alone
1 man standing between the enemy and the pier
 
The man
Continues to talk to god
Asking for a the family 
That he wished he had
 
It’s dark 
Dead of the night
There’s a sound
I think "here’s a fight"
 
Can’t see
Can’t find the enemy
He’s surrounded the water
1 man fighting for his life
 
He talks to god 
As if he was right next to him
Pleading to stay alive
To see the future he so desperately wants
 
Lock n load
He loads a round
The dead of night
Is now full of useless chatter
 
200 yards
They’re all around
Where are they?
Where is the crew to help?
 
A man
You see his face
He has death in his eyes
As he points the gun in your face
 
Safety off
Pull the trigger
1 round goes off
Gun just jammed
 
A rocket
A ball of fire
Flies towards you
You know this is the end
 
Flash back
Of your life has been
Flash forward
Of the future you could have had
 
Coming closer
Bout to blow
A tap on your shoulder
A comrade saying "its time to go"
 
You look around
Dead of night
Not a single sound
Not a person in sight
 
On watch
With your .50 cal at hand
You fell asleep
Cause you’re the only man
 
This is what happens 
When a sailor is alone
Standing watch at midnight
All on his own.

Copyright © Eric Bradshaw | Year Posted 2011


Book: Shattered Sighs