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Open Poetry #36
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The Soldier
| Open Poetry #36 |
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The Soldier |
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Otaku Junior Member
since 2002-08-13
Posts 39Western Australia |
The Soldier (Dedicated to the victims of the Rape of Nanking 1937-1938) Another raid on a helpless village Where my comrades now pillage. It is easy to steal from the slain. How they tread over the bodies with utter disdain. I light up a cigarette. Sergeant Karagawa shouts to me, “Let’s take what we can and flee.” But to rob dead bodies that have been shot, I solemnly reply, “I dare not”. Lieutenant Orikino is raping dead girls, One had no legs and her hair with bloody curls And I bet she had a family, friends and dreams. She was trying to save her little brother, so it seems. In the distance lies a mother and her child, Like corpses in the wild They lay lifeless and still. Down my spine, an eerie chill. And today, I shot a boy. In his hands, his favourite toy. I don’t know why he ran into our crossfire. I tell the truth, I am no liar But the fact remains that he is dead, Life for him was short and spent. I close his lifeless eyes, Confirming his unfortunate demise. I light up another cigarette. This is what I applied for, Rivers of blood and ghastly gore. As fluids of the dead redden the shore Into my throat, some water I pour... I light up a final cigarette. But this cigarette is not for me. It is for the fallen villagers that I see. I shed a tear, Have no fear For Heaven’s gates are open to you. For the last time, The final mime, I switch the safety off my gun As I stare into the blinding sun. My brothers and sisters, I will see you soon. Tonight, I will miss the moon. Bang. Forgive me.. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
 touching the screen in silent scream |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice writing...in History books, I read that the Japanese were so brutal because they were purposely trained that way by their commanders...apparently many lost their souls in the process...James |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
This really makes one think. It is all too easy to imagine the situation. Nice write. miscellanea |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
It is unbelievable that such a thing happened. Strong write. |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
reading this, brings close an entire face of woe....a woe in which the jury still remains in recess...God bless you for sharing this, for the courage to write what your heart need not know...and yet, we must align our eyes with our minds...so that we may someday stop these wars.... Hugs |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
Horrific...and you wrote it perfectly. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
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INclan Senior Member
since 1999-07-20
Posts 1024Indiana, USA |
A strong write on a tough subject. Have we progressed at all as a species? I have read a lot of war poetry, from both sides, and they all sound the same, from both sides. INclan |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
It always astonishes me what normal people can do in abnormal situations. This one takes my breath away. Nan (Pilgrim variety) |
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