The Ballad of the scared man

A poem about a soldier.

 

The Ballad of the scared man

 

 

 

The soldier aims his riffle.

 

His cheeks glow red with the cold.

Dried Blood is splattered all over his uniform.

His boots are caked with mud.

The smell of wet grass and gunpowder engulf his senses.

His fingernails are long and dirty.

The soldier sucks in the cold morning air into his lungs.

He closes his tear stained left eye.

 

       The soldier squeezes the trigger.

 

Reviews

[Raven Starhawk]

I actually thought this was a tremendously well done piece. I love reading anything you write anyway so maybe I am just automatically in tune to say that this is brilliant but regardless it is ever so more true that you have a gift for weaving excellent poems.

[*~*Butterfly Kisses*~*]

My brother who is a recent veteran from Iraq enjoyed this poem as much as me. Nicely done!

~Anna Rose

[Ruth]

Luke, you constantly impress me!
This is raw and so emotional, and to a degree makes me lose my thoughts a while...a sign of good art that has moved!
Brilliant!
xoxo

[LinBin]

A haunting piece, well written x

[Dahlia Phoenix]

The bitter suspense of this happening makes the reader feel like they're watching a Civil War movie or someone trying to survive. A struggle from within...its always a conflict. Thank you for a great poem!

[Georgiana S]

This is soo sad yet lets us, the readers, have a clear perspective of what a soldier really feels, by describing both the emotional side and the visual side. Excellent.

[Coyote Poetry]

War make men change. Like in the poem. Release of bullet bring men to a new level. Some men can forget and move on. Some regret the squeeze of the trigger causing death in bad dreams. Thank you for the amazing poem. Few men are real hero's. They are forced to do things to survive and must try to understand their deeds.
Coyote

[((Teenage_Poet_Loser))]

so short but hits your guts with Tremendous force! great job

[Shy Girl]

Goodness...very short and direct. That put me right there. I know many soldiers, and I couldn't even imagine the image that remains with them throughout the rest of their lives. Even if they never fire a gun, just stories to us, but real to them. (most leave out the details you described) Your piece brings a more realistic picture for the mind to connect. I am speechless...as I'm rereading this. I really am. Nicely penned. Tear stained left eye...speechless

[Everson Taveras]

You capture the nit and gritty, the unsaid and better forgotten sacrifice and memory of soldiers in the battlefield--- and the measures they must sometimes take to come home again. Great write. Thank you for sharing