Modern Warrior

Far from home

Memories are stirred by the sound of a foreign prayer. It’s 4 a.m.

Listening to the harmony of the tenor voice, hands raise to his ears

Still hearing the rise and fall of the dawn chorus,

Not like the blue birds and swallows chirping

It’s still inky black, people are praying.

Can’t get away,

Duty

Honour

Valour

His eyes, arid like the desert refuse to shut as he focusses on a tatty photograph

Edges frayed from fumbling, colours fading from sun touch and time.

Reaching a hand to sense the comfort of a well worn corner,

There’s a woman, two children, a yappy dog.

Sand slips in wisps outside, sounds like silk moving,

A nightdress, a kiss on his weary head.

Wishes to get away,

Conduct,

Respect,

Duty.

The particles in the dry air exanguinate his spirit,

Every day, he sees the tremors of heat glinting with the arms of modern warfare

The sun shines on the brave exacerbating their lethal smiles

Where children play, and people lie.

Home and honour are two polar opposites.

Breathing and grabbing his metal protector, low false god

Will he be martyred toady?

The woman,

The two children,

The yappy dog,

Smile silently in the moment captured long ago.

Reviews

[FlawedByDesign]

As opposed to one previous review, I think the title is quite fitting. These days soldiers that leave families back home, spend more time counting the days until they get back home, then worry about the fighting itself; and I don't blame them.
It seems to me that this poem is about the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, since Muslims get up early to pray.

Nicely done :)

[Coyote Poetry]

The story was outstanding in this poem. Those photos and letters keep us hoping for some reason and purpose for the things we must do. The story had a sad tone to it and I do understand why.
Coyote

[RDOriginal]

The title of this poem suggests quite the opposite of the content and provides the necessary stark contrast to shock the average Western reader into thinking about things from the other side.

Contrasting the dawn call to prayer (fajr) with the atypical British dawn chorus of "blue birds and swallows chirping" reminds us that life for many people around the world is utterly different to what we might consider as 'normal'. Then, by listing the reasons for the adherence to the call we're reminded that this is not simply the dutiful trudge to worship once a week, it's much more. A thing of duty, honour and valour.

I like the way that the poem then moves from the pious to the personal. The main character is not simply a tiny part in a massive organism, he has a family and the use of the term 'yappy' for the dog gives us a warm, homely feel. The only thing I'd suggest is that a devout Muslim would be unlikely to have a dog as a pet as they are generally considered 'najas' or unclean/forbidden.

There's a nice touch where the mention of martyrdom is immediately followed by a second reference to the people in the photograph to remind us that this man was or still is part of a family.

This poem lifts the lid a little on a culture/mindset we are unlikely to ever understand and if it gives up pause to think for a moment then its achieved its goal.

[Breezie Kae]

This is so touching and has such wonderful imagery. :)