Shadows

We can't escape the bad or the good done in a life.

 





























Shadows
 
My sister told me. "You  have changed. "
She told me. "You saw too much s**t and your mind and eyes are cold.."
 
I told her,.
"War isn't personal.
You do what you are told. Try to forget and move on"
 
 I kissed her forehead.
I told her. "War was easy.
This world falling apart around me.
I don't know what to do.?
That the crazy s**t I don't understand."
 
Up in the morning before five.
We don't need no sunshine.
 Organization, discipline, three  square meals a day.
 Old SGT. say. "It will be all OK."
 
Young boss at work asked me too many questions.
 I told  him it is not for him to understand.
 
When you stand tall at attention. Salute a M-16, boots and helmet of a dead soldier.
You join a club.
The soldiers that lived must carry on with their buddies stories and memories.
Drink a beer on the day of their friends death. Can't allow them to be forgotten.
.
 
Lying on cold ground.
 Waiting for a hidden enemies.
 You slapped your magazine to insure it is loaded right.
 You light up a cigarette and hope all things will be alright.
 
Going to Iraq with my gun.
Going to kill some Iraqi sons.
 
 Generals sent Division of soldiers.
Names don't matter.
Reaching for more stars.
 
Mama and Papa sit by the phones.
Wife and family pray for the day their soldier come home safe and sound.
 
Soldiers talk about kids and woman.
Takes up most of our time.
 
No-one talks of dying.
 Ain't no race or religion.
 Protect your friend back and he watched your back.
 
Soldier do right and wrong things.
A lucky man can walk away from  all the s**t and forget.
 
The shadow of war find you one day.
 
 I stood with  a mother of my friend killed in Iraq.
  She  held me up.
 I saluted her son's gravestone.
 
I go to the corner bar with other Veterans.
Drink to friends not here and missed.

Maybe baby sister is right.
The shadows are always with me.
 
                                   COYOTE
                        

Author's Note

Old poem. Soldiers must insure the old one's are took care of. One day we will be the old one's. Any mistakes. Please assist.

Reviews

[E.H. Monroe]

we have this vision of what happens "over there". then the folks "over there" come back here, we throw a parade and then tell em to f**k off because we have better things to do. The war against the enemy is just a war against people who were raised by different fathers and mothers, different gods and rules.
and that creeping shadow of war..s**t man i dont even know that f****r..but i know guys and gals who do, and he is a rancid drinking buddy who runs his fingers down a scar on his face and reminds you you havent seen the s**t like he has. well f**k him.
never any mistakes in a coyote piece...just reality that makes real go...damn that s**t is real.

i salute you sir

[Star Wolf]

I agree, the shadows in light are never to be escape. We must learn to live with them if we can. It's a life long struggle I think. This is a wonderful and moving poem.

[Abd-afeez]

i don't know what to say, i so much didn't want it to end. The poem is epical and tells so much what a soldiers life really is. It tells, that the war is only not going on around them but inside their head also. Great work, keep it up!

[A-Lovely-Anxiety]

Such a beautiful poem, filled with melancholy and underlying confusion, as if he does not know what was really happening.
Beautiful as usual.

[DalainaRenee]

It is hard for solidars to get over an ending war. Because in their minds they are still there in it. And they can never escape from it. My uncke has that problem from the war.

[PrincessZeldaWannabe]

Really sad, but strong. Reminds me of my series of short stories that I write about war. Plus, I do like to study wars so this was really cool for me!

[Aidz]

Lest we forget......

[Stormy Weather]

I loved how you wrapped this up. Great write!

[Judas Hammer]

I Love the movie thin read line. It goes into the minds of the Soldier. Humanizes them, show us they are people with families, feelings and fears. This word of art did this for me. Thank you for allowing me into your world and looking through you eyes. This piece is great, Also thank you for serving our country and protecting our right.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Very intense writing! I could feel the static of deep emotions as I read, War to me is not the way to peace. Alot of soldiers out there fighting for peace and fighting to stay alive! I salute all soldiers! Excellent poem!

[the in between]

"I saluted her son gravestone." should be "I saluted her son's gravestone."
Great poem. Thanks for sharing this was a very haungting and unfamiliar perspective for me. May they always be remembered. The military sounds very structured unlike this chaotic world.