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jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

0 posted 2011-08-18 09:02 PM

The Only Game We Won

I squeezed in Homecoming,
the only game we won last year,
just before I left for war.
You cried, and cried some more,
then gave me everything to stay,
and yet,
I said no - not before I go to war.

The friends I made,
the ones I lost,
the shells, the shells,
the IED at the side of the road -
Corpsman! Corpsman! - my god,
my leg! my leg!

Right then I didn't know
it was my leg, and more, but
I was going home, they said,
not all of me, but mostly there.
Going home to friends I left behind,
to family, to you,
still holding everything.
Going home
the day the Chaplin came
and said your name -

Oh no! oh no!
Corpsman! Corpsman!
I beg of you - my god,
Corpsman, please . . .
don't send me home.

© wesley james beard, jr.
august 2011

[This message has been edited by jwesley (08-19-2011 11:32 PM).]

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

1 posted 2011-08-18 10:23 PM

Friggin' gut-wrenching, buddy. That's about all I can say about this one . . .

~ Man who stands on toilet is high on pot. ~

Amaryllis
Senior Member

since 2010-05-20

Posts 1306
Mi now

2 posted 2011-08-18 11:25 PM

I really like the repetition...so alarmed...that the relationships we twist might be more frightening than the war...powerful stuff.

Amaryllis

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

3 posted 2011-08-19 02:23 PM

So intense and well written. Leaves a lasting impression.
Ida

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

4 posted 2011-08-19 03:47 PM

I'll breathe in a little while... maybe. *S* Intense and heartbreaking!

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

5 posted 2011-08-19 06:35 PM

Dear Jimmy, this is extremely poignant and well written, causing great emotion.

Love,
Margherita

shelerellaSP
Junior Member

since 2011-08-12

Posts 42

6 posted 2011-08-20 02:01 AM

I almost didn't comment because I truly am at a loss for words... but your poem is definitely worth a comment. Such emotion... all I can say is I felt it.

Prasad Nataraj
Senior Member

since 2008-05-29

Posts 1149
Bangalore,India

7 posted 2011-08-20 04:41 AM

Fine writing, sometime life is every much like war, so many people we meet, lose. Physical and emotional wounds and many more….

"The secret behind survival of mankind is kindness and love within our hearts"

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

8 posted 2011-08-20 05:16 PM

Sad, but so very true.
And way too many.

JL

2islander2
Member Ascendant

since 2008-03-12

Posts 6825
by the sea

9 posted 2011-08-22 01:46 AM

very emotional, heart breaking, made me think and feel a lot,

yann

Alison

Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-27

Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!

10 posted 2011-08-27 11:06 PM

This is where I stop for a bit tonight. This poem made me mentally stagger. It's good - it is sad. And, I hate to think how real it is.

Thank you, Jimmy.

Alison

divine chaos
Senior Member

since 2006-07-09

Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

11 posted 2011-08-27 11:13 PM

This just takes my breath away. What a powerful write.

~Sheli~

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes

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