I sit here hidden out of sight
Motionless I have been for hours
My place of concealment is unkown even to my comrades
I am the invisible defense of the men in my platoon
I am the invisible offense of the enemy that marches upon our position
Soon I will be forced to enact my training and kill unsuspecting men
And this is what I think to myself
"With this one shot I could kill a man"
"With this one bullet I can alter a family's legacy permanently"
"With this one round I can protect my brothers in arms"
How is it that I can do this, people ask
To protect your freedoms, I answer
How is it that it doesn't affect me, people want to know
It does affect me, I tell them
Every night I awake from the same nightmare
A nightmare of the children of those men I've killed, crying over their fathers graves
I remember the faces of everyone I've killed
The last thing I would do before I squeezed the trigger was to say a prayer
"E nomini patri, e fili, e spiritu sancti"
Author notes
Written January 12th, 2004
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Well thank you so much, it really means a lot ot me htat one of my writings has touched you so much. And heavens no I don't mind that you share it with your friends. That is what this little community is all about right? Anyhow, thanks again for the kind words, I really do appreciate it.
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You are truly an amazing writer..I love your style and your poems...They are so true that each line really makes me think. You don't know what your poems have done for me..I hope you don't mind but I shared a few of them with my Best friend, you see we both have many family members overseas right now, and your poems really hit home.
Thanks again.
~Daniela
Edited on Apr 01, 8:31 p.m. because 'typo'. -
good
Very very good,
IT was great. keep writting -
Wow- this is a strange and powerful poem. I like the ending because it's ironic and yet so true- people use religion as a tool for war when really the two are completely separate. Well done
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the ending was creepy as soon as i read the translation (thanks, GreySkyMorning ^_^). it was just... wow. i thought the way you said this was really beauitful, and i loved the way everything came across. you really did an amazing job, ^_^
-taori
and thanks a bunch for your comment on my poem... i appreciate it so much,
^_^
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great
Awesome. My stomach clenched with the last line... "In the name of the father, son and holy spirit." I suppose everyone wonders what goes through a terrorist's head, and this is actually quite how I imagined it. Keep up the good work. -
applaud
Your understanding of war, is truly beyond me. You fascination with that concept amazes me... I'm left with faces surrounding me as if I'm the one who must make another kill....You words painted a picture beautiful in it's own way I guess you can say, but so true.. It makes one think about all those soldiers and what goes through their minds before they shoot, pulling the trigger changing someone's life... thank for sharing this thought provoking write... it has made me think more then I was expecting. Take care of yourself and keep writing... -
well then, you make a good point. The problem is I am for big business so... The thing is, your comment has more to do with your passion for being against big buisiness rather than war. I do see your point, but a bit odd of a place to express it. Thanks anyhow.
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The decision of life and death is always the hardest one
we will make. All would be made unnecessary if but for greed and power, for they are the base from which all hostilities arise.
Keep penning
Eddy
Edited on Jan 14, 10:02 p.m. because ''. -
This piece touched me to the core... Such contrast here between the saving of the comrades and the slaying of a fellow human being. I know such images would haunt me much like this. The final line was especially impactful, reminds me of a line from a song I heard "Every soldier in the war's got God in his sight, and that's why we can't stop the slaughter." This was a poetically beautiful write, and yet it held such pain, such difficulty. Wonderful.
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stunning
This is chilling.. SUCH a powerful, surreal picture...and then startling to realize it is the true story of many, many men out there. I hope this is not true for you, and if it is, may you find peace through such awe-inspiring artwork as this. -
Powerful write, this. I've known men who have had to do difficult things and after many, many years, it still plagued them, in one way or another. Taking a life is something that stays with a person, even when it is 'justified' by an act of war, or self defense...beautifully written Steve. x Tilly
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Wow nice job. i dont know what to say. its good...better... great.
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Good, for lack of a better word. One which would convey how very good this is. It has just the right feel to it. And the prayer on the last line. Excellent. Very very well done.
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