Voices From The Wall

There's 58000 of them

I was hit by mortar rounds
I could hear them coming
I was pinned by rifle fire
Not much sense in running

I bled out on a Medevac
In pain and terrified
I didn't feel a bit heroic
just before I died

I was burned by Napalm
Dropped by a Navy plane
My flesh split and melted
Lit up like propane

I was ripped apart by shrapnel
Hit by machine gun fire
Blown away by booby traps
Tripped off by hidden wire

I went down in a shot up Huey
Missiles blew me from the sky
A sniper's bullet took me
With a lethal predator eye

I came home to an angry nation
Accusing me of genocide
I crawled into a whiskey bottle
and committed suicide

I fought against aggression 
By communist boogeymen
A war I gave my life to
I didn't matter in the end

Author's Note

Written quickly with little editing. Criticism is appreciated

Reviews

[Sam Sin Sepultura]

really well worded, I love the imagery and figurative language shown in this one. good job, keep up the good work. I really could feel exactly what the soldier was feeling and see what he sees

[Baby Ricochet]

When my generation of warrior came back from Iraq and Afghanistan we were greeted as heroes. When the Nam vets came back they got spat on and called "baby burners." This country owes the Nam generation an apology and the hero's welcome they never had.

[Keith]

Sometimes what you blurt out in a hurry is best. Maybe just leave it alone lest you water down the rage. Great message.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Keith 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

[ANTO]

A poignant piece BR - this poem should be printed on the front of every newspaper.
One tiny criticsm is that the lines
"A war I gave my life to
I didn't matter in the end." I would take out the 'I' here - what do you think?

Great piece of work to add to a great body of work

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you ANTO 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

[ANTO]

Your welcome BR. I have such a great respect for people who can write about the stupidity of war as well as you do. I began reading poems as part of school and I hated it - it was not the language of me and my friends (street urchins) so we shunned it. Only later as an 'adult' did I see the value to society of writers, poets and songwriters. The war poets Sassoon and Owen became my idols.
You are of the same vein as they.

[Pete Langley]

They used to call them "cannon fodder". Your piece terrifyingly illuminates the futility and waste of war. A superb write, worthy of Owen. P.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Pete

[Angel]

Quick little story...I had the classic little kid crush on my besty's big brother when I was about fourteen. Who knows, he might have noticed me in a year or so...I was always under his feet...
But then, war came. He marched off to the battle...
The next time I saw him, his mother was standing there, looking down at him in his pine box, and her tears were dripping down unto his cold, dead face.

This poem captures the hell that war truly is. I don't think you need to do any more editing, it is perfect, just the way it is. It is the spirit of the men who give their lives, without ever knowing why...

Thank you for writing this beautiful piece, Baby Ricochet...

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you angel

[Debra Wedin]

Wow...so well written.
You never see the other side, just what's told.
I could almost vision "them", telling me their fate.
You took me to a level, I've never been to before.
That's amazing....what they go through when
they pass..we never really know..but you took me there!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you so much Debra

[Debra Wedin]

Your very welcome!

[Inda]

Another Classic! Great piece that makes one wince at the fact that there's so much truth said here.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Inda

[Tai Ryens]

Henry Fielding once spoke, ``It hath been often said, that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible.`` I couldn't have found any other poem filled with such suffering, such undeniably misunderstood men, conned by the leaders.

[Baby Ricochet]

For sure. Thanks Tai

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

The most horrid thoughts that don't bare thinking about you display with all intent to shock, well done, good read.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Thomas

[Annabelle Lee]

I'm not sure how to criticize the Baby Ricochet, you never do anything wrong. Yet another fantastic piece, Ricochet!!!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanks Dog