(Written in November 1984 for a class assignment on Remembrance Day.)
“What am I doing here?” I think aloud
“I’m only twenty-one.
I should be at home, with my own crowd,
Be with my family – have fun.”
I shouldn’t really worry about my age though,
There are boys here a lot younger than me.
The oldest – thirty-three.
This is war.
Fought in the jungles and on the beaches.
I thought that the first two
Were supposed to teach us.
But Lord – we never learn from our mistakes.
What’s that!
In the bushes!
Oh, it’s just a bird
I guess my nerves are getting the best of me.
I’ve been out here for most of the day
Ands not a person I’ve seen.
I guess I’m here to kill,
Oh, but definitely against my will.
A noise! In front of me!
There – a shadow.
The enemy
I jump into the bushes where he can’t see me.
After a moment, he comes into view
Slowly I raise my gun, point it at his head.
I pull the trigger.
Bang!
He’s dead.
In a list
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Excellent!
First two as in WW1 and WW2--as I remember it 2 was supposed to be the war to end all wars wasn't it? And, how many have we had since then? It wasn't but a few short years until the Korean war then Vietnam and the first Gulf war with the elder President Bush. Then the Afghanistan, and now Iraq wars were next unless I missed some which I suspect that I did.
You did a great job on this piece. I love it!
Damon
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Now, here is kinda like emo down with the bang
Yup, I never would have guessed that to have been in you lol the ending made me laugh 
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The chilling irony of the date that this was first written is not lost on the reader,this was written more than two decades ago whilst men were fighting other wars,and yes one would have thought that the first two would have been lessons enough.The title is effective and part and parcel of the poem,the rhyme fluctuates but this is not picture pretty paradise and war has no form,why should words conform then,the meandering of the mind revealed well.Line eighteen ands/and.Particularly liked "I should be at home with my own crows" This piece could have been written by a soldier today as equally as twenty odd years ago.
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This had me a little confuese at the start, but wow what a finish! It put it all into perspective for me. A powerful write barbara!
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The number one contributor in reason so many take their own life in war.Your sensitivity to the level headed morals we try to instill in upbringing our children. Seems alien in nature to the battle scarred warriors.Great depth of thought in this piece.
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