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

[Kenneth The Poet]

Heavy stuff. I can't imagine what my brother went through we he hoofed through the mountains of Afghanistan.

[BabyBluee]

wow Coyote it seems as if ur sister taught u a valuable lesson here...I loove the way u write first off, you're soo talented. Its interesting how you ended the poem, a very strong ending to a very powerfull poem. great write!

[Beautifully Tragic xPoe..]

Honest, truthful write I'm sure for many of our soldiers now coming come. Splendid, heartfelt write

[Liza]

it is a fine line for a soldier; you brave beings are directed and mind washed towards actions that protect one side and hurt another; it can't be easy to be stuck in the middle for your own livelihood. God Bless.

[Enigma]

An intense poem about how a war is a waste where so many lives are sacrificed. Afetr witnessing countless deaths, truly, those shadows of memory do not let you go free of their grasp. You always remember what you saw and how you felt.
A great poem.

[Searching 4 Serenity]

War is never good. And until society realizes that it is only a temporary peace solution, the shadows will only continue to haunt civilisation.

[RJM]

The reality of war as you pointed out in your work is that it in the end when the soldiers are dying in the fields of death they aren't fighting for justice or ideology they are fighting for one more day. Beautiful, cathartic work.

[Jack Heslop]

I like the deeply confessional nature of your poems, how you accompany each piece with personal photos, the dialogues and inner debates. Thank you for the read.

[InkSlinger]

the stark realities of war, and the effects they have on soldiers that fight them.. Brothers in arms unite, even when they don't understand one another, just to live another day.. I really like the strength and harshness of the phrasing here, and the short cut to the quick approach, it feel authentic, like that of a drill Sargent pressing hard for results.. very good indeed.. I salute you for your service to your country!

[KAREN]

Sad, but tell a wonderful story. I love the title and how you brought it into the ending. Nicely done as always.
100/100