Call signs

Images and reflections of a war in a sacred land

        Crackle and pop

        fade in fade out

Frequencies all down and out

Listening for the killing time

Radio signals all call signs

 

        Turbo screams

         Rotors thump

Scared f**k shitless in my bunk

Watch the locals for a crime

Radio signals all call signs

 

        Artillery rounds

      come crashing down

on the oil soaked sacred ground

  tracer rounds light up the sky

   An F-15 goes screeching by

 

           The Bedouins

       They came around

       We patch them up

      We pat them down

They said at night in the desert sky

   You can hear poor Allah cry   

 

      The things I saw

     In that ugly place

     Time won't forget

      Sand can't erase

       And every day

     the haunting time

Radio signals all call signs

 

  

 

 

 

Reviews

[Ama May Cooper]

The repetition in this piece gave a daunting feel to the lines. Increasing the traumatic danger that has been exprienced. Very honest, not distorted by the idea of fantical war heoro's but the true gritty expriences and torture of the sensative mind of the troops. Beautiful

[Lyn Anderson]

This is a very effective write in a number of ways -- the vivid description, the form, and the repetition.

[quinfinn]

in my youth it was Vietnam, and that was frightening enough, but you took me there with this one. i can imagine some things but not all....never all. you have to have been there. this write resonates with real experience and genuine feeling. well done, sir!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you quinfinn

[Frieda P]

I can see why this is one of your favorites, it's a frenetic read and you feel the anxiety flying off the page. Kind of ripped up my spine and slammed upside the back of my head. I can't fathom what living it does to a person. Good read.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Frieda. It's a vivid picture for sure

[Annabelle Lee]

Wow.

[KAOlmsted]

This one gave me chills.

[sienikeha]

"Sand can't erase" -- captures it.

[Baby Ricochet]

thanx

[Allyson Wolfe]

As devastating as it is to know what the narrator went through, this poem shows tragedy and fear in a way that becomes beautiful. It's an honest piece and has a great flow and rhyme scheme. I commend you for this incredible write.

[Baby Ricochet]

thanx

[lee von cleef]

Sound, moving weaving into ,threading you into us, a little patch on our skin,shading
our tattoos ,haunting ,silhouettes .

[Baby Ricochet]

thanx

[TLK]

"Sand can't erase." It's like you lost yourself in a sandstorm, were swallowed up, but even though the desert has claimed plenty, you still have the albatross of your memories around your neck.
We need to listen to people who have actually experienced war. In the UK, too often, people who decry war are all lumped as chickens even if they saw active service and are talking from experience. The real problem, I would venture, is chicken hawks, who like to drape themselves in the flag for approval without risking themselves.

[Baby Ricochet]

something like that. Thanx

[felioness]

The nervous energy is adroitly threaded through out this poem....the reader feels the tension rise. .. it allows the imagination to do the rest...the poignancy and horror of your experience is evident and powerful.

[Baby Ricochet]

thanx