Seventeen years ago
it was…
Days closing inside sleepless nights,
hearts and muscles filled with the lack of adrenaline,
icicles in the blood, wailing alarms,
walls and ground vibrating twentyfourhoursaday to falling nearby bombs,
the air decorated with luminescent bullets,
the fireworks of death…
Screams hidden inside a million half opened mouths
handbags and luggage filled in a rush,
hope lost by the half way from home to shelter,
dreams lost under the cover of smelly, moldy blankets.
No TV commercials about gifts wrapped in red and green and gold paper,
no Christmas and New Year bargains,
each moment passed in expectation
for the next breaking of news.
A moment deeply engraved in the memories of my flesh
it was….
My gaze frozen inside the window’s frame,
my hands above the freshly ironed, still warm clothes,
making an inexplicable, futile effort to protect them of flying bombs
while people died in front of my eyes.
My son behind my back,
wide opened eyes, holding tight to my upper arm,
leaving a deeply inlaid tattoo with small fingertips and nails,
a million questions in his eyes
all condensed into one single scared why...
I was never able to answer,
and I will never be.
Author notes
Personal memories... years 1990 - 1995.
In a list
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A contest entry
- Touch my heart by MysticalRayne.
450 points, ended January 7, 2008, 35 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Write with your heart. by Not-The-Sun.
850 points, ended June 27, 15 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 16 of 16
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this poem is very unique and stands out from the others in my contest
I expected a soldier to be protecting his troop, but instead I found a parent protecting their family. I was astonished by the creativity and emotion in this piece. There were no cliches in this piece, the lines were so new! Great job! Thank you for sharing such a powerful poem, and good luck! 
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Thank you.
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wow - this is a very powerful write - The imagery was excellent I felt like I was right there - best of luck in the contest and my apologies for this horrible experience
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Very thought provoking and true. The soldiers where not the only ones who had defend and protect. Mothers and those at home trying to avoid those bombs the soldiers where trying to stop, are also warriors as well.
Good emotion and words.
Nice job! -
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Sorry
I am sorry you went through this. Only those of us who have seen what we have seen truely understand theun-real reality of what you have described.
Take care my friend.
Jim
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You are right, only those who saw it (like you did)and who was in situation to listen the sound of bombs only waiting if the next one...will be the last... Thank you for visiting my site and for your always friendly and kind comment and applause.
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This is a powerful piece, making it that much harder to judge. There is some great imagery and it really does tug at the heart strings. You had me gripped from the first line, till the last, not always an easy thing for me. Here is your score...
Total ~~ 97.4
A good score, how to see you again
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Events like this never leave one if they are a participant in such a tragic happening. Liked the flow and the story you share in these lines.
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Made me think of the "Blitz"...never knowing whether a family would still be alive in the morning, those Anderson shelters were often the graves of many. Good luck in the contest
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oh my this really is eye opening to ones inner thoughts, you can only imagine as you live within the body of dreams, good posting here, good luck...mm
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Best wishes in the contest.
This is a real "wow" poem (IMHO).
leaving a deeply inlaid tattoo with small fingertips and nails,
a million questions in his eyes
Just one of the best lines...you have many.
Very heartfelt...you convey the feeling well.
Write on!
*PEACE*
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This is impressive, the imagery is very vivid. It brought back horrible memories of the Lockerbie bombings twenty years ago, it missed our town by seconds, very evocative write,
well done indeed and good luck to you,
Floorboards.
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A very good write. Suspenseful... nightmarish. Vivid descriptives. Deep expression of emotion. A picture painted of fear that has never fully disappeared from your memories. Well penned.
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Dear one, as I read I felt terror climbing up my throat. This is a testament to our need for peace, that war should not ever be waged against our brothers and sisters. "the fireworks of death", "a million questions in his eyes" affected me most strongly. Terrific work, many blessings to you.
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Thank you dear Sandal, unfortunately, this dream is still coming back from time to time still looking for the right answer to why. Reality and feelings never could be described with words only.
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