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Soldier Boy
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Soldier Boy |
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Jon Mewett Senior Member
since 2000-03-04
Posts 1304 |
We were pinned down by the lakeside there Taken losses …had our share The broken lives were scattered all around The pounding now had been three days We were blinded in the stench filled haze A crimson mess was weeping to the ground My comrades sat at their wits’ ends’ Surrounded by their dying friends The sorrow now was ink black as the night Then with blinding flash a shot rang out ‘ He’s got Stan’ the curdled shout A sniper rat had got us.. in his sight Our hearts were now about to burst ‘Damn you God’ the muffled curse And another shot like an arrow in the black Came screaming from the cloak of trees’ And got Jim Bennett in the knees And he went down ….crying on his back The sergeant came to my right side ‘You’ll have to take him out’ he cried ‘You’ll have to try to bring that bastard down’ I held my weapon steady there Squeezed the trigger with a prayer I saw the shape come crashing to the ground At morning rise in cool clear air The enemy no longer there We began to clear the carnage all around Broken men—broken hearts The ground just filled with human parts We performed our gory deed without a sound I came into the snipers’ lair I saw the body lying there There was a hole where once his life had been I turned him over caught my breath He had died an awful death And he was to be no more…. Eighteen Then I felt guilt set its seed I came to see my dreadful dead The boy’s now dead and lying at my feet Oh what a thing to have to do But then it’s either him or you How I wished I could make that young heart beat That poor boys’ face has haunted me All my life since then you see And now I have a young son almost grown And when I look at his bright face I put that soldier in his place And hug them both as if they were my own Jon Mewett Sorry about posting all this stuff..I'm in a bit of a story/narrative type groove at the moment. Maybe I should get out more? [This message has been edited by Jon Mewett (edited 03-23-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Jon Mewett - All Rights Reserved | |||
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William P Bussey Member
since 2000-02-26
Posts 188 |
Jon, my comarade, This is what war is, I to have carried a face with me for 49 years, but I also carry faces of my friends, who never got to grow old, have kids like you and I. I killed a man one night who only wanted to surrender, his mistake was the night. Our lives are ruled by our memories, but we have to select the ones that we can benifet from. I think your words speak volumes, I wish all of our nation could know what we know. Good shot....Bill |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Through the powerful words of both you wonderful poets the world will come to know. Excellent writing. Denise |
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rich-pa Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317New Orleans, Louisiana |
i found it an excellent piece with it's grim capture of a war time scene. rmeinds me of "all's quiet on the western front" in it's detail. i think your narrative pieces are great man, just keep 'em rolling if you can rich-pa |
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Jon Mewett Senior Member
since 2000-03-04
Posts 1304 |
Thanks everyone. But I have only been in uniform in my immagination,I've never served. My father was in Burma for three years. He told me many stories of heroes and enemies. These stories seemed, to me, to be always tinged with sadness. This is where this piece came from. Jon |
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StarrGazer Senior Member
since 2000-03-05
Posts 679Texas |
WOW for never having been in war this is great the imagery and emotions seem so real great job!!! "A poet is one who spends a lifetime standing out in thunderstorms, waiting to be hit by lightning" ~Randal Jarrell~ |
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childomine Senior Member
since 2000-01-25
Posts 818st. petersburg, FL |
Jon, your fathers stories must have made quite an impression on you for you to be able to write this excellent piece. The haunting of a do or die situation and the loss of good buddies is a pain many veterans struggle with every day. You did an excellent job on this. I would have sworn that you were a vet. ...Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.... Black Eagle Oglala Sioux holy man |
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Gene Senior Member
since 2000-01-23
Posts 935Colorado, USA |
Jon, As usual, you paint a very vivid picture. You're a great storyteller. Even though you might not have lived it personally, in a way you did. I know exactly how deep this is a part of you. My father was in WWII--5 major battles and 183 consecutive days of combat--so you can imagine. He too, had many nightmares, but he had that one certain one that always haunted him. I felt his pain so deeply that I feel it's as much a part of me. Superb poem! ~Gene |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
Yes please continue. We already have Sam's Corner, why not a Story Corner. I'm always very impressed by how you tell a story. Just like now. |
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Jon Mewett Senior Member
since 2000-03-04
Posts 1304 |
Thanks-Yes I was moved by my fathers obvious affection for his friends alive and dead,and also his horror at some of the things he had to go through. Also he seemed to regret the way that some things had to be. Jon |
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Tess Member
since 2000-03-22
Posts 288Australia |
I think you do very well writing in the narrative style...this was a powerful piece and conveyed the story with many emotions "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." -Aristotle |
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John the cat Member
since 2000-03-23
Posts 357England |
A very moving poem..Thank you. |
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Wikket Member
since 2000-01-29
Posts 340Santa Clara, CA USA |
Jon, Well, as a Soldier, I can understand the heavy burden I must face...that if I come into combat, I might have to take someone's life. I believe I would have somewhat the same emotions as this young man in your poem, and especially the guilt afterward. But like you say, it's either him or me... --Jamie |
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Jon Mewett Senior Member
since 2000-03-04
Posts 1304 |
I understand we need people like you Jamie to protect our liberty,thanks. John |
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