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hesitant hero
Contributed by
poeticjestix
on
Sunday, 13th March 2011 @ 01:11:55 PM in AEST
Topic:
war
|
Mud and timber walls they shake,
the pounding thuds and cracks my core
no roof upon, in cratered fields
their colour pounded long before.
I look down at my mug of tea
and watch the ripples circle in
artillery, it knows no end.
My head drops, resting on my chin.
I close my eyes and think of sunshine,
fields of green and sky's of blue.
I turn whilst lying in a meadow.
sitting, resting, next to you.
The sound of children sweetly playing.
Splashing, paddling in the stream.
This future wish, it comforts me
then I am jostled from this dream.
The whistle blows, we gather round
for orders barely heard through pounds
and bangs and screams, mud splashes dance
we must attack, we must advance
I line up next to Harry, he winks
I check my bayonet is fixed
small ladders pressed against the walls
when we advance it must be quick
I swallow hard but throat is dry
now energised I'm too awake
above us, we know what to do
enemy lines we must now take.
We're off, I'm up and sprinting wildly.
Feet can't purchase. Nothings flat.
My boots and gear, they are too heavy.
Not even an acrobat
could tame this land and run on swiftly,
my feet sink and then I roll.
This is my luck as gunfire opens
mechanically engineering fall's
The whistle blows, my head is down.
Desperate. Clutching at the ground.
The crack of gunfire drops in trance,
there's some success from our advance.
Trying so hard to look so hurried,
I get up late in desperation.
Sprinting forward hoping comrades
did not see see my hesitation.
Fallen soldiers littered, silent
Harry there, his body opened.
Life removed within a moment.
I apologise. It is a token
I drop into the captured gun trench
the Maxim held by three as spoils.
The lads are jubilant, relieved
My stomach slowly lifts from coils.
Nobody noticed my tardiness.
At least that is what I had thought,
but Kelly gave me such a look.
Silence from him was all I hoped.
No whistle now. My head is down.
I seek comfort from the ground.
Silence doesn't stand a chance
as artillery renews it's stance.
Behind me the cheers they fall silent
as pounding, it starts up again.
I look down at my hands , their shaking.
They tell me I'm at my whit's end.
For I was not built for this madness.
No enjoyment gained from this test.
I think of Harry dressed in entrails,
maybe he's glad of the rest.
Kelly winks at me, pats my back
but I can see within his eyes
that at the crucial point, next attack,
he doubts with vigour I will rise.
Tonight I will write you a letter
telling you things are all right,
and we will all be home by Christmas
you count the days, darling.
Sleep tight.
Copyright ©
poeticjestix
... [
2011-03-13 13:11:55]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: hesitant hero
(User Rating: 1 )
by emystar on
Sunday, 13th March 2011 @ 04:41:54 PM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
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Wow you just reached up and grabbed my attention
in this write.
It's sad but it's really well written and heart wrenching to the core.
I really appreciate this kind of write 'cause it makes us appreciate our soldiers more.
Great job,
big blessings,
emy |
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