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…

[Frieda P]

Hauntingly affecting lyrics, gave me the chills, just the thought. Reminds me of something Baby would write since he lived this horrific scenario. Enthralling read albeit disturbing.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.

[Baby Ricochet]

I'm going to PM you a poem I wrote from the inside of this subject. Don't worry. It's short and no swearing

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I look forward to reading it.

[MusicManiac]

I feel like I always start with the same thing, but I can't deny the truth: your writing is captivating.

It is difficult to do a subject matter such as this justice, and you did a great job! The frustration and agony of the soldier is very apparent. "Honor and glory gained for gory deeds" really speaks to a nature of war that we haven't experienced. What our country commends them for is what, sometimes, they condemn themselves for.

The saying "eyes are the windows to the soul" has always been one of my favorites, and this definitely gave me a new perspective on it.

Just one question, did you mean "the" in the fourth stanza?

Wonderful work!
~MusicManiac

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you very much. And, yes, I did mean "the" instead of "they." I caught another error too: I meant "powering his final ride" Thanks for catching it.

[MusicManiac]

You're welcome! Glad I could help!