A Soldier's Story

I read a story this last weekend about two soldiers that had a gay relationship. When others found out about it one denied the truth and said he was seduced while he was drunk. The other soldier came up missing after a weekend of Maneuvers.

Wearing a gas mask to walk in the rain
Painting my heart camouflage
part of my masquerade
Trying to prove I’m okay

Standing outside your window
Looking through the two way glass
Seeing nothing but a past

Turn to leave with what dignity I have left

Tripping over egos
and words that should’ve never been said
Condescending acts of treason

against our hearts and all reason

 

Whispered I love you’s lay gathering dust

Pasting strangers all point and laugh

Finding that forever was not long enough

Because I still miss you

 

Being condemned for the love we shared

Seemed to just be too much for you to bear

Passing a death sentences on to me

with your lies and deceit

 

Telling everyone it was a drunken mistake

I seduced you while you were just too weak

Your secret is safe

I will take the truth to my grave

 

As I am left in desert with no escape

Abandon and left for dead

Watching the sand pass through the hourglass

I have no will to live beyond this

 

The news will read soldier lost in the desert

He leaves behind no one

No mention that I was gay

Or that I had my life taken away

 

 

Author's Note

I read a story this last weekend about two soldiers that had a gay relationship. When others found out about it one denied the truth and said he was seduced while he was drunk. The other soldier came up missing after a weekend of Maneuvers.

Reviews

[Nick Erickson]

This is a very tragic story, one that definately deserves to be brought to light.
It's sad to think of how closed minded our society still is when it comes to same sex relationships or any other relationship others look down upon, including interracial. We've come so far, yet are still so lacking in our moral views - something your poem has forced to the front.
It's not ok to be gay, but it's ok to murder someone who is??? Where is the rationality or morality in that???
As before, you have taken another "taboo" subject and have written a piece to open the mind.
Hopefully one person will read this and it will change their outlook, make them more accepting.
Well done!!

[[untitled]]

This TRULY, TRULY angers me. Excellent piece!

[Paul Wallace]

Great Job!

[Annalisa]

...Stories like this break my heart. Something so tragic, and so easy to avoid... This was a lovely and extreamly powerful poem. The lines below really stood out to me:

"Whispered I love you's lay gathering dust
Pasting strangers all point and laugh
Finding that forever was not long enough"

I did see one typo though, in the line "Watching the sand past through the hourglass" I think you meant to say pass instead of past...

Anyway, great job as always.

[An Ordinary Woman]

This gave me goosebumps like no other.

Bless you for writing it and bless you even more for the heart you have because it is huge in there. This tears me up. :+(

I agree this story needs to be told. I love [no I mean I really love] the way u wrote this. One cannot read it without feeling the pain. Applause and kudos to you!

[Lucifer Jones]

read that story too I believe. You put it into a very moving piece. Really love all of your writings!

[Midnight Rose ~*Anna Ro..]

Very sad story, Robert. Most of these kinds of relationships are looked down upon, when I believe we should mind our own business. Love is love, and there is nothing carved in stone that a love is between a man and a woman.

Marvelous piece.
~*Anna Rose*~

[Nicole (Carpe Diem)]

fantastic write as always robert... its sad that this is what has to happen... that a relationship is looked down on and another goes missing...