(Classified)
Dated 07-04-1954
Memo: Naval Intelligence Office, Borneo
Status of U-944:
Crew, moral and training at time of sinking by USN Defiant,
as told by lone survivor, Matrosenobergefreiter(Seaman 1st),
Klaus Heidelmann, #8675309, age 21 (at that time)
...............................................................................
I
I Knew nothing of this vessel, when I was led to it,
one that did not float, I had been quickly trained.
From a modest fishing family I will admit,
when they took me away, papa had to be restrained.
His only son taken to war, they cannot profit,
slumping to his weary knees, no more fight remained.
We were taken blindfolded to a secret training base,
three hellish days of training in that dark, dank place.
None of us knew one another, Officers do not care,
we all had to learn what we could in that little time.
Arnie Silversteen was shot, fought back, we dont dare,
if you question an order it's a capital crime.
They taught me many things of which I was unaware,
for a modest fisherman it was a hard climb.
I thank them for their knowledge, it has helped in my life,
have two beautiful girls, the most loving, caring, wife.
Led to this boat in the deepest of the winter night,
seven German naval officers and us fifty enlisted men.
Rushed very quickly inside, soon all were out of sight,
they tried to make us fear them, I didn't have to pretend.
Being under all of that water, had filled me with fright,
and then I heard the order given, it was time to descend.
We trained for weeks under the waters, under the waves,
all of us silently praying we didnt meet watery graves.
We became a fighting unit, a tight knit crew,
had to depend on one another in the murky deep.
Being forced into it, nothing else that we could do,
life consisted of training, eating and exhausted sleep.
What was going on up above none of us enlisted men knew,
once in a while at lights out, I would silently weep.
Days became months, we all did our jobs now unconciously,
a fear in our hearts, soon we would meet the enemy.
II
Alarm claxon sounding, jumped from my bunk,
instinct takes over as I reach my post.
I am good at my job, I do not boast,
doing as told, our first enemy sunk.
Gaining expierience, sank many more,
took pride in our work now, doing as told.
Full of accomplishment, we became bold,
American convoy, hard to ignore.
We tracked them for days, to get a good shot,
picked out a slow freighter, close to the rear.
I heard the depth charges, was filled with fear,
destroyer upon us we'd failed to spot.
I was the only one out the front hatch,
U boat nine fourty four, had met it's match.
III
Deathly silent
the hunter
stalks it prey.
Until,
it becomes
the hunted,
and dies.
Author notes
Part I:
Four Octive Ottava Rima.
Ottava Rima
A Ottava Rima is a poem written in 8-line octives. Each line is of a 10 or 11 syllable count in
the following rhyme:
one octive poem. abababcc
two octive poem. abababcc, dededeff
three octive poem. abababcc, dededeff, ghghghii
...so on and so on
Part II:
Sonnet
A Sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines (iambic pentameter) with a particular rhyming scheme:
Examples of a rhyming scheme:
#1) abab cdcd efef gg
#2) abba cddc effe gg
#3) abba abba cdcd cd
Part III:
Septolet
The Septolet is a poem consisting of seven lines containing fourteen words with a break in between
the two parts. Both parts deal with the same thought and create a picture.
In a list
A contest entry
- WW2 U-Boat Contest by Arrianna MacEwan.
800 points, ended September 22, 2008, 4 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - RAVENOUS FETISH for UNUSUAL poetry FORMS by dogpooper.
600 points, ended October 9, 2008, 12 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 30 of 30
-
well written
I only knew what a sonnet was so I have to thank you for introducing me to ottava rima and septolet. the septolet fits so well with the title and shows what happened in the end without having to state it word for word; I think the ottava rima had a couple parts in it that didn't fit well and were only stated for the sake of the form and rhyme, but overall it was great. the sonnet part was my favorite 
congrats on the honorable mentions.
-
Love this
The theme and structrure, the vividness of the descriptions. Well done and good luck in my contest -
I love the fact that you're showing me more than one form here. It makes it so much easier to expand my knowledge if I can tackle three at once. Now, I'm saying no for the septolet because I've never been really good with short poetry. Definitely yes for the sonnet because, even though I've never gotten to writing one myself, I absolutely worship Shaespeare. It's difficult to write in iambic pentameter, being that specific, so I'll probably need your help for that. And I've decided no for the OCtive Ottava Rima because I dislike really big stanzas. They bug me.
As for the poems themselves, they really complement each other and show your true talent. Thank you so much for entering them. -
Like the stacking of forms! Thanks for following the rules. Will comment on the actual poem later.
-
Awesome job! I really felt the emotion behind this piece! An A+ job! Keep up the awesome work adn thanks so much for the share! I really am looking forward to reading more of your work....which I probably have already............ I read a lot of stuff on here and try to comment on everyones....Sorry for my mindless ramblings.............HAHA!!!!!
Again.....Thanks so much for the brilliant write and share! Good luck with future writes....but judging from this, you don't really need much luck!!!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~**~Heroesrox~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~* -
Three poems work as one
They fit each other! -
septolet is succulent
The moments bliss
I spend
with you
Lead me
nearer to a
heart
true -
Three
back soon
-
Interesting
I did not understand the date, tho, did you mean 1944? Otherwise, a unique and well-done work. I learned a new form today by reading this - thanks to you!
-
-
No, I meant 1954, ten years later, intelligence report, Bureaucratic bull-shirt. Thanks for your comment...Scott
-
-
very nice! I like it a lot, especially the detail of what happens BEFORE combat. very personal
-
Nicely written and I truly enjoyed it..Thank you for sharing your art work
-
A beauty! Thank you for sharing your talent with us in such a fine way. Proud to know you, Sir.
-
Good grief... I clicked on this hours ago... "tabbed out" to look something else up, then got tunnel vision on the other tab! I too like this, though the metric flow could use a bit of a tweak. It's a great entry with the difficulty of three different styles incorporated in it so I'm guessing it should fare fairly well.
-
ooo wow that is extrodinary! I LOVE IT!
-
this is a very good poem. keep writting!!!
-
I salute you sir! Great poem that makes me proud to be American.
-
Very interesting, my friend. I enjoy seeing fluid poems where multiple forms are used together, and this did not disappoint!
An interesting story that you told here; you kept me engrossed from beginning to end. Well done!
Estel
-
The poem holds to its form quite well and clearly illustrates the emotions of war and its destruction. I liked the images you conveyed in this and the emotions of the main character as he relates his wartime experience.
John
-
Well thought out Voice of expierence put on paper. A privledge to read. Thank you
-
Nice one
How awesome...its quite realistic and touching...first we enter a phase of not knowing whats going on...then...we submerge into fear and then the fear give us an unknown strength to move on and confidence and later that confidence takes us down into fear again...and then we meet the end after being the prey we become the predator and then the prey again...its quite nice and a good story and poem i really like the feeling it portays...
-
FANTASTIC
This is a fantastic piece of work...I'm unfamiliar with this particular style, though I am a lover of poetry....I enjoyed this tremendously and the talent here as well as the passion it presents is astounding! Thanxxx so much for the journey and all the best to you!
-
Very informative
"they tried to make us fear them, I didn't have to pretend." Those who've endured army training can understand how those forced recruits felt. That was a powerful statement. I was also thankful for the explanation on different forms of poetry. Very helpful.
-
I know nothing about technique, but this poem gripped me from the very first. An awesome piece of writing. Absolutely powerful. What a picture you painted with wonderfully chosen words!
-
What wonderful variety you exhibit in this poem. The first part, the ottava rima, tells a fascinating story. It is worded so that the rhyme seems almost unintentional - never forced. The sonnet amped up the volume with a staccato approach mimicking the stress of battle. The final part, the septolet was poignant and the perfect epitaph for this work. Very nicely written.
-
a great descriptiuon you did with your magic pen my friend..wonderful indeed.....Well done my friend..I love it..
-
thank you for this. It's great and thank you for the lesson in the author notes as well. Good job.
-
wow that was kinda long, but it kept my attention. that was really good, and i REALLY liked the end!!! the ending was probably the best part to me, because i dont much care about these topics, but this one was actually pretty good. good job!!!!!
-
wonderfully penned. Actually dont much care for these types ...normally but this one kept my attention.
I love reading things of this nature if they keep me on the edge of my seat.
And you did just that and in different forms (maybe thats why LOL)
Great job and I know Arrianna will love this she is strong in the support of our servicemen..
Love u as well
Tory
-
"all of us silently praying we didnt meet watery graves."
The U-Boats are often refered to as Iron Coffins.
Your poem has depth to it, no pun intended, and I appreciate your following the rules. Great write full of emotion, good luck in the contest.
A. MacEwan
Adding your comment:
1 - 30 of 30
