Killed and killed

A true and sad story of the permanent wounds of war.

Killed and killed

On Friday night my father drank his rum.

He would come and wake me up late in the night.

I watched him and listen to his war stories.

He would start calling out to lost friends.

I would sit and pity him for his great pain.

.He drank every night to try to hide the burden.

He told me. " I enlisted son, I don't know why for Korea and stay a second tour.

The blood infested my soul.

I killed and killed.

I watched my friends die."

He would sit alone and talk to ghost of men left in un-marked graves.

I would carry him to bed.

He would whisper " they are not coming home."

My father had no fear.

He was a hard and cold man who loved laughter and woman.

God, those memories drove him crazy.

When he quit drinking he never talks of war.

He told me ' no-one cares about his time in the war.

He was another crazy Indian man killing for the USA.

Ain't no rewards now or then."

My father held all his Army decoration with great pride.

He was proud to defend his country.

He said " I know soldiers must fight to keep us free."

My father died a young man of 61 years old.

The old Soldiers came and gave him a 21 gun salute.

I wonder would he trade the nightmares and the blood on his hands to be clean of a war never won.

                       COYOTE

                     1998

Reviews

[Dakota]

So many in every generation feel no one cares about their time in war. The entire piece slammed home for me for reasons you're aware of, good friend. Your last line will probably remain one of life's unanswered questions. Would they honestly trade it all in for a moment's peace from the haunting regrets and nightmares? No matter what the answer is there are those of us who do care, wholeheartedly and to us their sacrifice will always matter. Thank you for this Coyote, thank you.

[Warren L.G De Mills]

I found myself deeply enthralled by your writing, The description of this events painted images on my ever impressionable mind. Every stanza and every line seemed to have purpose and clear meaning. At the end I thought to myself "What a story" and trust me I am serious when I say this will remain on my mind for a while. Effective writing my friend!

[joshua deathdealer]

This is so sad and beautiful. My grandpa served in WW2 and my uncle in Vietnam. I remember sitting around as child while they drank and listening to their stories and pain. I'm glad that your father defeated alcoholism. This is an excellent story. Thanks for sharing..xx

[Me]

Superb penning

[Dragonflyz]

This moved me. My grandfather was in WWII but he never talked about those days, never let anyone see the ghosts that haunted him. I couldn't begin to imagine the horrors they saw during wartime. This piece showed that to me..conflict between honour to defend his country and the horror of the experience. Beautiful Coyote, thank you for sharing this piece of you and your father.

[Francesca]

I feel so much for anyone who has to go through those memories. It's a sad part of many peoples' lives, and these people are among those we should respect the most.
Great poem

[Veronica Chandler]

This piece tears at my soul and heart strings...I hear stories with some regularity from the veterans I volunteer to sit with and care for at the V.A. The pain your father experienced and the loss of every one he knew and didn't know are so eloquently spoken here. Your words about the memories which couldn't be drank away will live with me forever now, and I will never be the same for having tasted a drop of his ocean of pain. My tears flow for him now, and the son who gave him comfort, they cloud my vision so I cannot see the screen or what I type.
Thank You Coyote Poetry

[.......]

This is fantasic, I love this story.
I really loved this part;

My father held all his Army decoration with great pride.
He was proud to defend his country.
He said " I know soldiers must fight to keep us free."

This is so very true. We must fight to keep us free.
Awesome write!

[Jasmine]

this. is. incredible. truly, a story and a moral tale and raw human emotion all in one. War destroys, not just human lives, but damages those who are left behind. But war is a product of being human. It cannot be avoided.
Outstanding work.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Reading this was like listening to the words of one I love talking about his dad and how it affected him. Not only do the warriors suffer but their children become victims also. Excellent Coyote.