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Teen Poetry #4
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fractal007
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since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958


0 posted 2001-02-19 03:47 AM


A dying soldier's monologue to the victor in battle.





They say that laws of nature are impersonal
And even transcendental. Hatred's law now,
Upon this dark and dreary planet that all
Are curs'd to live upon. I ask you now,
How're we to call hatred transcendental?
I see it stand in front of me right now.

I see, I hear, I smell what used to be.
My soul's departing Hell and embarking on
A journey to some place where I will see
What life once was, with this my death now gone.

Remember trees, remember plains, now dead.
I was those things and they were me. No more.
Today we've all died. Gone is life, they said
The trees were in the way of troops and armour.
They killed them, fire came next in, now all's dead.

Now I ask of you
Save that life before you die
Let me be the last.

© Copyright 2001 fractal007 - All Rights Reserved
Allan Riverwood
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since 2001-01-04
Posts 3502
Winnipeg
1 posted 2001-02-19 10:26 AM


OUTSTANDING.
Fractal, my friend, this is the BEST poem that I have read from you, no doubt. To the library!
You did an amazing job portraying the feeling. It made me sit back and gasp... really!

"Remember trees, remember plains, now dead.
I was those things and they were me, no more."

Your style is magnificent. The senryu at the end was an excellent conclusion and summarized the final message beautifully.
You really outdid yourself here. Keep outdoing yourself, it suits you! ~_^
-Allan

The unintelligent are merely tools for the intelligent. That would make my house a veritable toolshed. ~~Allan Riverwood

fractal007
Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958

2 posted 2001-02-19 06:33 PM


Allan:

Thankyou for the compliments. I decided to do something a little different on this one, namely writing the majority of it in a form that mildly conformed to the stylings of iambic pentameter. That way it reads a lot like a modern version of the ending of something like a Shakespearian tragedy. I've had the idea for this type of scene for a long time, namely for the story that I want to write about that civilization I told you about in The Past. At the end of the story, a scene like this will hopefully take place, although I don't know if there will be a monologue like this par se... I have floated this scene before, in an older poem of mine called "Reconciliation." However, that poem was not all that great. I'm glad that this one worked out much better.

Dopey Dope
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Member Patricius
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Posts 11132
San Juan, Puerto Rico
3 posted 2001-02-19 09:19 PM


I thought this was simply amazing. The ending was very powerful. The soldier hoping that he's the last to die.......stop the killing and the war......the hate and death.
NIcely done frac! Yet another wonderful poem!



I was born myself, raised myself, and will continue to be myself. The world will just have to adjust.

I'm in love with my shadow
I admire it daily

Acies
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-07
Posts 7665
Twilight Zone
4 posted 2001-02-20 10:02 AM


Amazing fractal!!!
I see you've used war, soldiers, or armies in your poems a lot
any particular reason?
thanks for the share

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this give life to thee." W.S.

jeremydraul
Senior Member
since 2000-08-01
Posts 1118
State of Despair
5 posted 2001-02-20 01:31 PM


Good theme I have to say, not sure if it really sounded like a poem while i read it, maybe i misread it? definately one of the best youve posted, and into the libe it goes!

JR


Life is fading me away, far away, but I’m sketching myself back, line by line, mark by mark.

fractal007
Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958

6 posted 2001-02-20 03:05 PM


Acire:

Thanks for the compliments. I used to like studying military technology. In fact I used to want to join the military. But then I figured that I'd probably make a better game programmer or writer, lol. The war themes stem from the stories I conjure up about great wars that start out with honourable intentions, but end in ultimate world wide disaster.

Jeremy:

Thank you. How do you mean that it didn't sound like a poem? Well, I think I might know what you mean. Do you mean that it sounded more like a speech or something? if it did then I was successful[I think] in writing a dramatic monologue...

Allan Riverwood
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Winnipeg
7 posted 2001-04-28 02:58 PM


*bump*  I think this deserves more replies.  
Fading Away
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since 2001-03-14
Posts 3131
Lynchburg, Virginia
8 posted 2001-05-01 12:15 PM


"I see, I hear, I smell what used to be.
My soul's departing Hell and embarking on
A journey to some place where I will see
What life once was, with this my death now gone."

This is so beautiful!  This is one of the best I've read from you.. wow!  This one's going right to my library.  Your words are so well spoken, and the flow is excellent.. VERY nice, frac.. VERY nice!!
Awesome work.

--Marie

subconsciously, i think i can eat so much to make my stomach hurt, instead of my heart.

Linc
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The Backstreet Boy
9 posted 2001-05-01 12:18 PM


Hey,

    I really enjoyed reading this very powerful! Keep up the great gob I am looking forward to your future works. Until your next poem

     -- Linc

"Once you reach your original goal it seems that the journey was your real accomplishment."

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