Beyond the perfection of worn leather
Soft, supple and unique.
He glided through the aisles,
This man without legs or feet.
Reaching far above remembrance,
He slowly filled his cart.
Children looked away for once,
As mothers quickly fled.
But, he did not flinch
Nor cast a doubt.
Just felt grateful
He wasn't dead.
The sand was the enemy
On the barren desert floor.
He felt the blast... icy hot,
As buddies became no more.
Looking at his legs and feet,
Laying delicately in blood and gore
Made him laugh beyond belief
Then scream "No more!" "No more!"
Half a man can live in peace.
If he doesn't forget.
He laughed softly now..
Praying for release.
As unseen legs and feet,
tapped to a soundless rhythm
His brain kept the beat...
"No more!"
"No more!"
Author notes
I cried because I had no shoes
Until I met a man who had no feet!
all the soldiers do not die in this war, only pieces of them are left on the barren desert floor
A contest entry
- Quote Prompt Contest # 2 by BluesMan.
800 points, ended April 21, 2008, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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All soldiers are victims of war. Those killed on the fields of slaughter feel no more pain. However their loved ones suffer long after the peace.
Those who return home all have also suffered. For as long as they live, the pains of their experiences will live within them.
I can only echo "catz" comments for this is truly a Magnificent poem.
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This brought tears to my eyes, Freda... A poignant, compassionate and realistic consideration of those brave men and women who gave of themselves, literally. Congratulations on the gold for this poem, it's a very deserving write
Dee
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This is a wonderful poem great metaphore and i liked the way you ended it in rhyme. Nice touch The grattitude spoken of in this is amazing. Great write Thank you for entering my contest
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aw this is very sad and very emotonal thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!
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Excellent
What a powerful poem! I like it, especially the flow and rhythm. The imagery is really clear. Good luck to you on the contest. ~Peace~Gar -
Oh my. This is quite some poem that you have going on in here. It was really quite surprising. At first I thought it was one of the more literal kinds of poems where you take the whole scene in as happening. But it's more surreal like here and a metaphor. I liked the strangeness of him looking at his other half in the sad. I don't really know why but I guess it's because it's striking.
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Oh my Goodness. This is a very powerful piece. Sensational. Best of luck in the contest.
Delila
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