Boots

 

 

Boots

 

            Through the rain and the sooth I could still hear the boots pattering about. Hadn’t eaten a good meal in almost a day, but the squad kept marching on; trying not to make a sound; couldn’t afford to give away our position. It was a quiet afternoon; the kind that gets on a man's nerve.

-Shots fired! Joe fell to the ground.

-Run for cover!

            The helicopter hovered over our heads. Bullets met flesh; indifferent as always.  Enemy fire came from the south; somewhere in a building complex. It was an ambush and we weren’t ready. The radio man called for an airstrike; hoped it comes soon, but it wouldn’t be a smooth one.

 

- Aftershock; target was within very contained space and even our guys got hurt by the raid as well. Near the HQ I saw a child’s dissident stare; the shocking find of his dead parents proved to be too much for him.

           

            Now removed from that hell it still lives within me. I can still recall the sand stained black and red; the blood of the sheep’s stomach splattered on the grass. My daughter’s smile somewhere in there too, along with these dreadful memories I keep. Brothers fell in my arms, died in agony; no flag could make up for that. Empty coffins, well wishes and written letters and words of honor are all that remains. All these terms and disguises for the fear and the horror.

            Joe is dead and his son is only seven years old, you think he cares about honor or the flag or anything else? He just wants his father, but War was needed; or so that’s what the old men said. They who know best, who feel pride along with ache, but never once an ounce of shame, they color blind; unable to see the red on their hands.

Author's Note

Still needs something, don't know what; any reviews will help!

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

life will "Ink" you, "Inda will Ink you" tuck under your sallow sheet quarter bouncing
Screen to hide the chill of your pockets party ,your life stops ,theirs never
Stars don't need laser sights and spotters to direct a drone
Alive a pat on the hollow back ,the hollow back suits with bright ties and empty eyes.

[Inda]

Thanks for taking the time to read and review, means a lot.

[Perri]

Think this is a really good expansion on that poem!
Really haunting...liked the penultimate paragraph most^^
Captures the sense of loss and violence of war well.

[Inda]

Thank you!