Confessions of a Soldier

A letter from the battlefield

 

Orders came swiftly
And thrust upon the battlefield was I
Shouts of “Charge! Charge!”
Echoing still, throughout my mind

 

Blinded by the masses
Of my fellow men
Who seemed to bound past
Too far ahead

 

Somewhere in the distance
An enemy was not seen
I remained cowardly frozen, while oblivious
To all the  dangers surrounding me

 

Why in this particular moment
To be struck in the head
Not by a missile
But, by too many questions I could not comprehend

 

Of deafening explosions, whistling bullets
A reddening madness in the midst
I stood all alone…
Contemplating with anger and clenching my fists

 

Then, I spied a suspicious movement
From out the corner of my eye
He came rushing towards me, bayonet in hand
Now, I reasoned fairly quickly that I did not want to die

 

It was he or it was I
Who was more willing to live
Were there now moral questions to decide
Or just an instinct of actions we did

 

Sadly my love
All I can say…
Is that, I’m the one who lived
And walked away

 

Again, in regret I inform you
That I’m not entirely sure if I sinned
But, this I do know, I did not win
I killed a man today

Author's Note

One of the very first poems I wrote.

Reviews

[Laura Harrison]

I have before tried and failed to write a poem about the war/soldiers but i just found it too difficult, but this is perfect in every single way. I applaud you :)

[Michael G. Smith]

They are hard to write especially like me who has never experienced it. This is one of those rare gems that spill out of me with no thought or rewrites. Thank you.

[A. Amos]

Another great work Mike, Buddy you're a true genius

[Michael G. Smith]

I am a cursed thinker, lol. This is actually the first poem I officially wrote. I wrote three more before it but this is the one that was seen by more than one set of eyes.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

This is....awesome! Easy to read. Thought-provoking. Heartbreaking. I can't believe this brilliant poem is one of the very first poems that you wrote. I expected something less excellent. ;) WELL DONE!

[Michael G. Smith]

Thanks, I honestly don't know where this came from. I know God inspired men because this came to me almost exactly as it appears. My wife came upon with the title.

[Pryde Foltz]

Well, you were and are a natural. Splendid emotional and philosophical write. The poems I could write on this poem attests to it depths; although, it is a tremendously focused piece. Your conclusion is very effective at obtaining from the reader an emotional response. You say just enough.

[Michael G. Smith]

Thanks, my father a Vietnam vet was my inspiration. He never would talk to me about the war.

[Avinash]

This piece defines you. It takes you to real battlefield. The life long baggage of killing someone. I will say it is your sincere attempt for redemption. A first class write.

[Michael G. Smith]

A weird poem. one of those that just came immediately and suddenly as if through the holy spirit. It came out without thinking almost exactly as it is here.

[rutherford]

Rutherford is a pen name I made up on the spot when I signed up to WC, in part because I didn't know what I was getting into. I chose it because of Rutherford B. Hayes, the president born closest to where I grew up in Ohio. For my full true name, plug in "Unknown Sands" into Google or Amazon. Cheers

[Michael G. Smith]

oh, okay. makes sense I have a pen name Nighttiger on another site. The name is from my comic book character I created.

[rutherford]

Excellent symetry of the opening and closing--with the end a allusion to military letters to families. Key stanza for me was being struck by not a missile but questions.

[Michael G. Smith]

Thanks, Rutherford. Your insights are always welcome and appreciated. By the way is that your first or last name?

[Rita L. Sev]

This is quite powerful, M.G. I cannot imagine this feeling. A good soul is never the same, I'm sure - though he is forgiven by God, he can never quite forgive himself...

[Michael G. Smith]

Rita thanks again. One question are you open to a collaboration? I thought I might float you some ideas just to see what direction you would take them.

[Rita L. Sev]

I am open to collaboration, though I haven't done one before.

[Michael G. Smith]

Okay, give me some time to get back to ya. I have mounds of half ideas to throw at ya.

[Johanna]

This poem was really good! I´m impressed by your writingstyle and how you manage to make the poem a movie in my mind of this man´s experience. The last part was my favorite. You are a really great writer!!

[Michael G. Smith]

Johanna, sorry I didn't thank you earlier, but now I am finding more time to be here, so thanks for your comments.

[Johanna]

No problem :) Your welcome :)