A Kill Machine

A sniper whose life and reality flashes constantly in front of his tired yet alert eyes

I still sit below the Oak, in the winter evenings.

The faint glows of the church, warming my bones.

And slowly the numb finger soothes the old scratching.

You, me and the heart in between, and those tiny stars above

Echoes of the bells, and the dusk still settles on time.

Staring through the rising smoke, the sun died with a splash

Faceless men in woolen coats, their shadows blend in dark

I still sit all the same, with cold cling to my skin.

And remember you hair flying in the early old December wind.

Plunging curves of the dirt road, still rings of your laughs.

The gravels there somewhere, and the stories which they hold

I still remember the sunshine falling on my face. Whispering,

You walk to me, dressed in my shirt with last night coffee stains.

Headlight of a passing van, the metal glints off my gun

Back to reality, I swirl on the dead leaves, senses so aware.

My dirty beard and roughed up boots,

I walk to the present darkness

Every evening below the Oaks, you’re gone, I realize.

Little did I realize, being here has always been a mission,

Working for the country, a nonexistent vigilante I am.

Guns and blades, death right on my face.

They never made me stronger

Less a soul.A kill machine, since the night you betrayed.

Reviews

[Lavi]

Hmm, this is a very interesting piece. It is surprisingly layered, something the reader doesn't catch until they've read it through all the way, and with every stanza a memory is squeezed out of it -fading and whimsical, yet so so clear in what had been.

[Abhishek Izy]

Oh thank you my friend. This is just a figment of imagination which stuck out of blue, yet it elates me that it is understood so well

[LazerRays]

Ah, a sniper Lost in flashbacks! As to show his life and feelings before and to flash to the man he is today. A killing machine. Funny how people can change over betrayal and training. Our feelings become a thirst for our country and killing. I love how you put in "death right on my face" interesting. I enjoyed this very much!

[Abhishek Izy]

Thank you Sarah. I'm so glad that you interpreted it so well. The subject and idea was so complicated (good for a story but maybe not so much for a poem) that I was afraid that I wouldn't make sense. I'm so delighted that you enjoyed it

[LazerRays]

Ah, well don't underestimate the mind of us poets! :D it worked very well as a poem!

[Abhishek Izy]

Yay!! :) :)

[The ArK]

What a poem!
The way you expressed the inner fights between the good memories of the past and the haunting senses of the present stands out well. I love your choice of words, it really expresses the soothing memories of the old love and the bitterness of the reality hand in hand. Loved it!

[Abhishek Izy]

I'm actually glad that you understood this so well, brother. Makes me very happy. Thank you so much for your kind review