Brotherly Love

Those who live forever bonded round a fire and hearth, spin their tales Are stories truly worth the cost of a poor mother's cries and wails

Two friends upon a battlefield

one left on the ground as he dies

In a foxhole, the other sits

listening to his mate's poor, cries

 

The first man wanted to save his mate

but the Sergeant said, not to go

"You'll only kill yourself instead"

"I can't leave him that's all I know"

 

The Sergeant went to turn away

as the first man dove from the hole

"I have to save my friend," he said

"if it costs my immortal, soul"

 

Minutes later he slid back in

clutching his dead friend, in his arms

Mortally wounded, he was now

blood was pouring, from both forearms

 Laid to rest within his friends arms

"a waste" said the Sergeant, to some

"When I found him, he was alive

his last breath said" "I knew you'd come"

 

Those who live forever bonded

round a fire and hearth, tell the tales

Are stories told, worth the cost

of a poor mother's, cries and wails

 

Ask a man to die for country

he will die for his friend instead
But no matter why it happens

the poor man is still surely dead

 

Could we strive to be something more

than a tombstone, upon the ground

Is death the true test of friendship

when Taps plays, the ultimate sound

 

If we don't learn to love, brothers

extinction will be how Man ends

It's hard to live a life of pride

at the cost of so many friends

 

 

Author's Note

Christ said " No greater love has any man than to lay down his life for a friend"
While war seems the ultimate test of this tenant. It is the ultimate shame of humanity. While I see the need of it in WW1 and WW2. These skirmishes since have been needless waste. Humanity will destroy itself if it doesn't stop this. If we don't find the way to forgo war we will all surly die from the shame of it. The countless women and children killed by it are enough reason.

Reviews

[Jadey]

My favorite part...I simply love this..

Laid to rest within his friends arms
"a waste" said the Sergeant, to some
"When I found him, he was alive
his last breath said" "I knew you'd come"

[Distant horizons]

onderful piece Tate, I heard a saying in my head while reading this. I dont remember it word for word, but it is something along the lines of

A war has never been one without being phyrric.

I dont even know if that it is how it is spelled, but the jist is, all wars won come at too great a cost.

[Arielle Hill]

This is really a passionate poem. Very touching. This gives a full understanding of TRUE friendship, yet most of us have forgotton. Straight from the heart. Love it!

[Andrew Scorah]

Countless men and women died for our freedoms back in those two great wars and we learned nothing, our brothers and sisters are still dying today, and Taps will play forever, this is a fitting tribute to the eternal heroes.

[Arielle Ann]

touched by your words here...amazing read!

[Klyn]

I went to the traveling Vietnam Veterans wall and a preserved note in glass was written that touched my core and I will never forget:

The jungle... it won't wash off

--The sounds
--The smells

Like the waves that come and go
on the ocean in my mind,
the memories remain.

L.F.
227th Assault
Helicopter Division
1st CAV

Your poem is a beautiful and I can see actually hear Taps playing in my mind. Incredibly visual, heartfelt and just damn good. Bravo.

[Penlady]

I've known men who lived through war and had no words, how does one described horror. You have interpreted the condundrum that is war.

[NewYorkNights]

This reminds me of a friend of mine who almost died trying to save his dying friend in battle. Thankfully both boys made it. This made me cry too easily, the words just hit home. This is beautiful.

[Everson Taveras]

Harrowing as it is insightful. The ending is like climatic nail in the coffin, the last drum roll. This is great.

[Rene Velez]

Brilliance in visual scope and meaning...this is a gem...for all to read.