The Lover, A Soldier prayer.

Soldier goes off to War. Need kind and sweet memories to keep them human.

                     The Lover (A soldier prayer)
 
Poor boys and men.
Roads lead to War.

 
Young woman with a  sweet smile.
Silk dress.
Smelling like sweet flowers.

 
Whisper,  "let's dance tonight.
You shall go to War."

 
"Tonight we need to create photos for the heart."

 
"Memories to keep you warm when you are lonely and afraid."

 
Young man brings the sweet Angel close.
Whisper kind words of love and thankfulness.

 
Soldier stand alone.
Cleans his M-16.
Death is all around him.

 
He closes his eyes.
He remembered.
The smell of flowers.
The feel of the silk dress.

 
The sweet smile of his love.

 
Keeps him human.

 
                  John Castellenas
                  4 April 2009
 
 
 

Author's Note

I stood alone on guard duty on the border of Iraq. Didn't think of War. I thought of beautiful faces and family.
Coyote

Reviews

[E. Leo Wells]

Do a little soldier poetry myself ...fought the demons and the devil, walked the trail and waded the rivers, ...you stuff is good, Soldier stand alone. Cleans his M-16. Death is all around him. nice verse, working on some new stuff ....keep writing and posting
E Wells KY

[Cryingkate]

Hope you made it home Dear Soldier E.Leo Wells ! I send you a Thank you for your service for all of us.
And I send A Song of hope with my tears that Mankind will someday overcome the war machine and live together in Peace.
May someday the only war we make is the war cry for Peace.

[♔ CrownedDevil &#..]

This poem really hits home, as most of my family were in the army. So I have a lot of respect for thone who fight for freedom and leave their families behind knowing that they might not see them again.

Kaze~

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Kaze. I tell people. The best gift is letters and photos. Something to hold, see and read when needed.

[♔ CrownedDevil ☾]

Your most welcome. :-)

[~Sarah~ Idríel T..]

"He closes his eyes.
He remembered.
The smell of flowers.
The feel of the silk dress.


The sweet smile of his love.


Keeps him human."


We all need it, something that keeps us human. I do not understand the war, all war is pointless when people could live together in harmony. Why, oh why people do not understand it?

Thanks for sharing!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Sarah for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Baby Ricochet]

In Afghanistan home is all we thought about cause we were bored and miserable all the time. I'd never been anywhere, before or since that was that desolate or that poverty stricken. Iraq was not like that at all. In Iraq I blocked thoughts of home from my mind as much as I could. I couldn't afford the distraction. Crazy s**t happened real quick there and if you were distracted, not good, not good at all.

[Coyote Poetry]

I don't know. I believe we need reasons to stay alert and know home is waiting. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Lyn Anderson]

Reading you, for me, is like clearing the air, and filling me with goosebumps and smiles ...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. This is the poem that support to have won the famous poem contest. They published the poem. Still waiting for the cash reward 5 years later.

[Cryingkate]

KEEP WRITING John ! Don't stop !

My eyes are opened wide tonight. Your stories of love are just a metaphor, just a medium for the Heart's Soul for Peace and Love.
The Soldiers Spirit and Soul and how it is sending War- Cries of Peace among Mankind.
I think the Soldiers mind is imprisoned between bars of training to kill and defend and the inner knowing of it's loveless wrong and the Love of Moms Apple Pies and feminine Love. Is the minds only way of touching the Love that we are suppose to be.

The Soldier is trained to do what is against his true nature. Woe the sadness for the soldier that has No one to send letters of love or receive them. No wonder sometimes they share their letters among each other.

Yeah Know Coyote... Couldn't we do something as writers to make sure all soldiers get letters and poems?
Couldn't we ? Who can we talk too?

[Coyote Poetry]

There are organizations. When I was in. Kids send us letter from organization throughout the United States. I believe if you go to Letters for Soldiers. Should be many. Red cross is a leader to ensure all soldiers feel they are needed and not forgotten. Letters are very important. Always good to read your thoughts. You are correct. Can't forget the Soldiers standing tall for us.

[Cryingkate]

I will start googling and see what I can find. Thank you for the confirmation :-)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear friend.

[Matching Socks]

That is just beautiful Coyote. So very sweet.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ana. I appreciate the comment.

[Jen]

The Prayer of this soldier is heartwarming and truly impressing. The thinking evolving from his mind is the same thinking of ours

[Coyote Poetry]

It is. No-one want war. Peace is the dream we must stand for. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Fariha Tahseen Karim]

a heart touching poem........

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you scarlet for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Pixieblue]

Its lovely to know what someone with first hand experince thinks while surrounded by chaos, it made me curious to find out what other things floated through the mind while being overcome with emotions.

[Coyote Poetry]

Without good memory. War would be impossible to accept. Soldiers dream and think of home. It is the only peace when away from home. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Pryde Foltz]

The sweet smile of his love.


Keeps him human.

That last line gave me shivers, Coyote. Why do we fight when such splendours exist in the world?

[Coyote Poetry]

Your question is a good one. Would be a better world if we led with love and kindness. Thank you for reading.