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.

[ShaneBerry]

again Coyote you have made another work of art! this piece seems to have a direct link to quite possibly your own personal experiences. no human has the right to take the life of another human. sadly we do, in the name of someone else's cause most of the time.
this poem made me a little happier for most of today i was reading up on (trying to at-least) every war in human history only to learn that at present there are 40 wars ongoing as i type this review people are killing eachother, and most likely the original cause has been twisted.. so after reading all of that i asked myself "what happens to these soldiers when they come home? are they thirssty for blood like monsters?" but this poem put my mind at ease. for it shows that even through the orders and terror of the commands shoved down a soldiers throat, they are humans at the end of the day, and they have to look at themselves in the mirror.
a very unique, very deep, thought provoking, write my friend! i am looking forward to more from you!

[Chantel]

Whoa. Very intense...excellent, deep write...

[MandaBear]

It makes you think of a life for a life

[Chris Smith Welshpoetcs]

It makes you think of a life for a life, but we have to question orders. To kill without reason because of something said gives way to a one word question. "Why"?
A soldier is there to serve and protect, to kill as a last resort with his/her duty. Powerful poem that gets the mind thinking.

[My Fair Lady]

Thank you Coyote for sharing this... it is almost surreal for me, difficult for me to identify with, because of my ignorance. Your works enlighten me, teach me, and help me to try to understand your perspective.. Probably why I just love you.

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

I thought about what the true reason could be for my time I spent in Iraq everyday. Even with the people we helped..I always wondered if you were sent to a place for the wrong motives and good somehow came out of it..does the good exist in the grand scheme of karma or does it just negate itself. There are always those bad apples whose fantasies of pulling the trigger motivate them to get out of bed every morning. Its pretty sad that after they volunteer for as many tours as they can get..and are no longer needed...they will be discharged and sent back into society. Your story here is quite amazing. Its strange to be young, proud and believing in a greater good...only to be shocked with the realization that you are looked upon as an expendable weapon.

[Amy Bumpas]

I really like your point of view here. Strong words that makes one ponder.
The things sometimes we are forced to do to survive, and that is the
question, can we live with the things that we must sometimes do.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Outstanding poem that has a strong powerful statement! War is useless to me, killing people is not going to bring peace to this world! God, Love and if we all could find a way to pull together instood of being divided we might could bring peace!

[KAREN]

Excellent write! So much truth and meaning in this poem! War is a terrible thing for the soldiers and the family waiting back at home. This poem is deep and powerful!!

[Mark]

I always told people that Marines had a lot in common with w****s but they never got it. It would have been nicer to be a well paid w***e.