A Soldier's Hell

This was composed to the driving strains Santana's screaming guitar and Clapton's wailing guitar in their collaborative performance at the Crossroads Guitar Festival.

A Soldier’s Hell

If eyes are the window to the soul, then why?…

Why can’t they see Hell blazing in his eye?

Mortally wounded spirit cries… the hellish chasm gapes

Over his every tortured nerve another memory scrapes

Darkness personified with every remembered face

Wounds of the soul so deep Time cannot erase

If eyes are the window to the soul, then why?…

Why can’t they see Hell blazing in his eye?

Honor and glory gained for gory deeds

Guilt cuts like a knife while murdered hope weeps

The eyes take in what the hands have done

The soul forever sees the black victory won

If eyes are the window to the soul, then why?…

Why can’t they see Hell blazing in his eye?

He closes his eyes to live out hell replayed

To wish just once, his hand could be stayed

His every step… every breath now death haunts

With demon souls of his dead his vision taunts

If eyes are the window to the soul, then why?…

Why can’t they see Hell blazing in his eye?

On his shoulder all his dead… faces pushing the slide

Every soul a demon howling… powering his final ride

No stopping him this time… no one to catch as he fell

His demons dragging him down… dragging him down… 

down… down… down to Hell!

If eyes are the window to the soul, then why?…

Why can’t they see Hell…

Hell blazing in his eye?

Hell blazing…

Blazing…

Blazing in his eye?

by D. Denise Dianaty

Author's Note

I was listening to NPR, to a couple talking about their son, who returned form Afghanistan. They'd been so thankful he'd returned uninjured. His suicide devastated them. Something they said, when they were talking inspired this poem. They said he was physically unharmed, but had a "mortally wounded spirit."

It also reminded me of something my grandfather said once, about how it felt returning from Korea. He said everyone expected him to just get over it and put it behind him; and, that their expectation was "like a knife in the gut."

Anyway, I hope to set this to music, in collaboration with a couple of old-time, hard-rockin' guitarist I know. Maybe something with driving strains like Santana's screaming guitar…

Reviews

[Sindu]

A powerful message! Solider's definitely go through hell, on and off the field. There is a passion in this piece that makes one feel and sympathize! The rhyme and rhythm are brilliant!

I remember listening to an interview of a psychologist, where he talked on a topic of eroding humanity of police and soliders who serve for a long time. Apparentely, when they hurt, kill or torture someone, a piece of their humanity disperses till a stage where they no longer behave humane. They become violent, destructive and depressed. It's heartbreaking for some one who helps millions to face an internal battle of that sort.

Amazing write as always Momzi! Thanks for RR!

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. It is a difficult thing to watch in someone you know.

[Sindu]

Yes, very much. You're welcome.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Bill O. Writes]

Very powerful poem knowing a couple vets in my family, I think they would say you captured their experience well.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I have a couple of hard-rockin' guitar friends who're trying to set it to music, a recording of which I hope to post before too long.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Mila]

Very powerful and gripping. Gave me goosebumps!! Well done :)

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you very much.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Yarta]

eyes are indeed the mirror,but most f us cant see.Well written poem as always.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you very much.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[TL Boehm]

when I read this before I read the author note I noticed this was very lyrical and would lend itself to a song. It truly burned to read the back story to this one, makes the write all that more poignant. I wonder often about those I've known who've faced horror and how they deal with it. Some shut down, shut people out...others choose the first exit door...but does anyone heal?
This is a powerful piece

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. When I was writing this, I kept hearing that collaboration between Santana and Clapton and could just feel Santana's scream guitar strains…

I don't know if any can "heal" from such personalized horror. I think it might be unfair to expect "healing." I think all we can hope for is that they learn to live beyond the horror.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Deepwater]

this is any soldier in any war nice free verse poem you have penned

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. When I began, I thought it would be a few short couplets. But, as I was writing it, I could feel Santana's screaming guitar strains driving the lines.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Rick Puetter]

Dear MomzillaNC,

Man is inexplicable. We love so much and yet we hate as well. We can see that the hate flies in the face and hinders the other nobler emotion. We see that, but apparently we can't overcome the hate. We still make war. We are not as evolved as we like to think.

Another interesting and powerful peace.

Very best regards,

Rick

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. We also do not see, that long after the warriors have left the battlefield, the war is still raging in their heads. More soldiers are taking their own lives after making it back home, than have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Pushkar Prabhat]

intense, powerful and gripping!
beautifully written.......!
i particularly love these lines: "If eyes are the window to the soul, then why?…

Why can’t they see Hell blazing in his eye?"

i loved it!
:)

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you very much.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[Pushkar Prabhat]

wow!! so you are MOM of all talents!!! :) :)

[MomzillaNC]

And I cook too! :D

[Pushkar Prabhat]

yeah now that makes you truly Nobel worthy!!! :P :)

[MomzillaNC]

:D ;)

[Pushkar Prabhat]

:D:D:D.........

[R Smith]

That's powerful and so immensely touching, i'm sure many soldiers know the true meaning of your words, to see the war first hand is something those of us who never endured such a thing cannot comprehend, this is a magnificent poem and going into my library, its sad, melancholy, asks many questions of us which we have no answers for, bravo.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you very much.

[MomzillaNC]

I was inspired to make a charcoal sketch for these lyrics as well…

[hardeep sabharwal]

its different and touchy, lyrics are good. nicely penned

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.