The w***e bath

Sometime we must think and make wise decisions.

The w***e bath
 
 Large shining teeth.
Telling me the way to heaven.
 
 I will find my way to paradise by the gift to his christian cause.
 His teeth seem to shine brighter.
 
His mumbling of a thousand words.
Leave me feeling dirty.
 
I get a damp cloth and wipe away the words of a greedy man.
 
 
 The captain tells me.
" I own you. "
 
"You do what I say.
Even  to death.
I'm in-charge."
 
 I try to wander away.
 But he keeps speaking.
 
I feel dirty and go to the latrine.
I get a damp cloth.
 
Another w***e bath in a life where the words are eating away at my soul.
 
 I sit in a classroom.
 The instructor asked me?
 
If I was ordered to kill.
Would I?
 
I tell him I would kill him first.
But my words become weaker with each second the instructor speaks.
 
 He shower me with his blood song and I began to understand.
 
The sweat pours down my face and I go to the bathroom.
 
One more w***e bath for a man drowning in useless words.
Forced to accept for a few pennies.
 
Beliefs only a mercenary could believe.
 
  Maybe if I was a high paid w***e.
 
 I could live with the things I must do.
 
 But nothing as bad as a cheap w***e.
 
                     Coyote
 
 

Author's Note

Two Soldiers in Iraq were told no prisoners. They killed two Iraq men. Is this a excuse to kill or a man who did not use wisdom?

Reviews

[Dennis Shanaberg]

Wow.
I'm amazed at the skill used in this poem. The different levels of interpretation in it are reminiscent of some of the greatest classic poets. I see traces of Eliot and Dickinson in these lines, and that alone is impressive.
All of these different "w***e baths" are all tied together in their questions of morality, and it leaves the whole concept of it so mirky.
This appears to lie in the fact that neither the preacher, the teacher or the captain truly can see the truth. An amazing piece that I am happy to have the opportunity to have read.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dennis for reading and the comment. You honored me with your comment. No-one win in war.

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

Poignant and powerful. You risked everything by standing up for humanity. At times I feel that this, the 'greatest' nation on Earth, is also the most bloodthirsty.
Thank you for sharing truth through these words.

[JanuaryDreamer♥]

wow. great write Coyote, thank you for sharing that with me :)

[Tina Kline]

Too many wars are fought for reasons that have nothing to do with defense. But the military demands soldiers fight no matter what and kill without question and it is a voluntary army right now. People need to answer this question within themselves when they voluntarily join the military right now. Great job on this.

[YouoweYoupay]

You are not the creator, thus you haven't the right to destroy/kill/ or cut off an existance. War shouldn't be thought of as anything other than defense against obvious attack. Killing one innocent man is like murdering all men on Earth. Because if you could make an excuse to end the life of one, the remaining work would be easy after your heart has darkened. There are some parts that confused me in this write, but it's hurtfully truthful and thought provoking. Thanks for sharing.

[Priyankaabhilaashi]

Fantastic..!!!!!!! Wonderful experience shared..!!!!

[Jenny Nelson]

I think the arrangement of this piece well served the point you were trying to make. It's a piece that really gives someone something to seriously think about. Hard-hitting piece, very well done.

[JENY]

one of the bests of your creations....
your repository of real life experiences and their translation into a poem....
fantastic....
thanks for sharing

[Nothing Personal]

your experience at the war front combined with the necessary evils of war comes right across here..the question, do we have the right to kill someone? a very self introspective work of a troubled soldier in the front..Well done, Coyote. You rock hard !!

[Heather D]

wow. this is powerful. a wonderful poem coyote! you always touch my heart.

[Judy Ponceby]

well done, the tragedy losing one's self to the mindlessness expected. and then, who is to be blamed for the horrific consequences? tragedy upon tragedy. Peace be with all of us.