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Open Poetry #40
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Heroes and Sand
| Open Poetry #40 |
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Heroes and Sand |
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JLHunter Senior Member
since 2006-10-08
Posts 557CA United States |
Heroes and Sand The night fell hard on yet another sunburnt day, And everyone who stayed was thrust into the fray. As fires rage against the dark, lighting Hell's domain. Devils howl and banshees scream, yet loath to remain, Chase terrors out that hide away, when comes the day. When strong men, like gods of noblest stock, tame this realm, As blood and loss that counts for naught, still overwhelm The keen senses that were never meant to bear all This loss of innocence, though obscured through the pall, Yet visible to mortal men in visored helm. And who shall lead these men into this darkest hour, With angel's sight to guide them, as demons cower? The bravest men who bark commands for greater ends, Soon find that leading braver men as night descends, Will spur them on to overtake that shining tower. Yet all the towers that ever were cannot lend One single extra moment, or to time commend, A kinder exit from this world for savage men, Than that afforded to these foes of lesser ken, As with dispatch they're sent to Hell, and meet their end. Thus pass the days of dust and blood in Hell's backyard, Where men of moral fiber soon grow tough and hard. Their time is measured, day by day, with hot rounds spent, And minutes, patterned by the arcs were tracers rent, While chasing whirling dervishes from land well-scarred. Then someday soon the endless nights of toil and trial Will fade into the distant past, with grimaced smile. And no love lost, yet missing still comrades in arms, This arid land will hold no sway and hath no charms, Still, faithful men will count their job as one worthwhile. When suddenly this reverie on shattered lands, Is pierced by shouts from fevered men who make their stands. As metal searing, cutting air, goes screaming by, This band of brothers lights them up and bids them try To see how well the rounds returned their flesh withstands. Then once again the night is calmed as silence falls, While death collects his nightly dues midst mud brick walls. And some may dream that peace will find this blood-soaked place, Till then our heroes make their rounds to bravely face The wraith-like demons stirred to life when duty calls. I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires. -Khalil Gibran |
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| © Copyright 2007 John L. Hunter - All Rights Reserved | |||
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fmlbarebackrider2001 Member
since 2005-11-16
Posts 138West Texas, United States |
I love this one! It reminds me of what our men and women are going through in Iraq. Well done! Know yourself before you try to know someone else. |
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JLHunter Senior Member
since 2006-10-08
Posts 557CA United States |
Hi,fmlbarebackrider2001. I'm glad he got it. That's exactly what I was going for. So often, the news is either brutal or sanitized, and what seems to be lost is the individual cost to individual service members on a daily basis. I have noted in the news and on the blogs that service members seem to make the rounds on cleanup missions during the day, but do all of their real fighting at night, when they have a clear advantage. Some call it night-vision goggles, but I call it "Angel's sight" in my poem. Anyhow, I'm glad you liked it, as this was rather an epic for me, compared with some of the other things that I have written recently. Thanks again, John I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires. -Khalil Gibran |
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