War Torn Nights

Dream or reality of a boy and a war veteran father

A moment stauls...
Somewhere in between
What shall always be...
Known as my lost and forever hour

 

Where I wake to sounds of thrashing rains
A clock sits staring, ticking and tocking
My own darkness illuminating lightning
Distant thunder following her in shame

 

All through, throes of raven blackness
Slumber as smoke slips off into the pitch
As I pass the limbo hallways of surreal
Stumbling forth in directions by my blindness feeling itch

 

Walls of memories dripping lucidity paint
Begin to collapse deep on the mind into younger years
And creaking footfalls shatter their echo
A certainty, little boy, remembered fears

 

"Ah" deja vu sounds the alarm even further
Cracks from father’s room, is the ceiling leaking?
Into my little ears I'm more awake
As I hear the faint famaliar tears of weeping

 

My curiosity ever stronger than before
And innocent eyes through doorways peer
It’s the war again; Mom said he tried...
To leave it all behind, but still it's always there

 

And the storm's outside, but in a booming violent voice
Rushes back surreal into the unforgotten killing
The death, its experiences still locked up
Within his mind never free or forgiving

 

A heroes love is his strength
Protecting me from a world with terrible pains
But, somehow I’ve learned to understand
That he needs his son, to calm his troubled angst

 

And silently I step
Inching slowly towards him
And nestle up within his trembling hands
Tugging upon one sleeve whispering "Dad, oh dad?"

 

“God has sent me here”
I say directly in his ear
Quieter now “To love you”
My tone gentle to his needs

 

Wiping away his tears
He whispers back...
“I know”
And picks me up, relieved

 

And in turn we face the scene
Of a passing storm into silence
As the rain seems alive to notice
Stopping to watch our amends in reverence

 

We are somewhat aware we are within God's presence
Looking to each other with a shrug
And then my dad holds me up
Giving this boy the biggest hug

 

Beneath the returning quiet
And the ambience of moonray light
He carries me back to my room
And places me into bed amid the last flash of white

 

Pulls the blankets up
Knowing this will comfort me
And I’ll never forget the words
He said so effortlessly

 

“One day...
You will have a son
Always let him know you love him
And your bond will never end”

 

Again I wake, this time
To the sounds of an apologetic rain
The lightening has ceased its battle
And the thunder it no longer blames

 

I unwind the blanket
And uncover and sit
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes
Awake, on the edge of bed

 

Was this a dream?
Or a twist of fate reality?
I ponder, running fingers through my hair
And, merely reflect upon it

 

Then I realize…
I was not alone
Dad is watching, from not far away
And I know one day, I'll see him soon waiting...

    in front of heaven's gates

Reviews

[Kesha]

Oh God this was purely amazing. The imagery & the form & just everything was on point & that ending gave me goosebumps I swear. Nicely done!

[Michael G. Smith]

SHUTUp! Goosebumps are like the highest honor. I'm privileged to goosebump you. Thank you again for making writing some much worth it. It's these kind of comments we need to be validated as poets.

[Kesha]

Yep goosebumps lol. So yes congrats, it was a wonderful piece. :)

[Giulia King]

Beautifully written!
"And I know one day, I'll see him soon waiting...
in front of heaven's gates" Gave me the chills. Very powerful.

[Michael G. Smith]

Thank you. I'm so thrilled it moved you. This why I write and I believe others do to hope that we touch a heart, soul or mind. Thank you for stopping by.

[KT-B]

loved this, such an emotional write, you penned beautifully your father's memories of the horrors of war and the love between a parent and child, awesome. :)

[Michael G. Smith]

Thank you KT for taking the time to read it.

[KT-B]

was my pleasure :)

[uNmAsKeD-dEluSiOns]

Once again I am so blown away with your ability to use words to really get through to the reader. This really sends shivers down my spine and I can feel the emotion throughout this whole piece. Your a very wise poet and this really touched me- one that I will probably remember forever.

[Michael G. Smith]

Again thanks for the in depth insightful review. A lot of my works are products of endless rewrites like sculpting a marble block into Venus de Milo. I like to write on all subject with a variety of styles. Thanks again.

[uNmAsKeD-dEluSiOns]

Oh well I think that's really neat- I just love your style. And your welcome :)

[rutherford]

A wonderful expression of a father's presence during and after life.

[Michael G. Smith]

I always witnessed my father fighting back violent tendencies from anger over the war and his childhood abuse. He was a tough guy and I mean Special Forces tough but, he wasn't ashamed to cry or tell you he loved you.

[Pryde Foltz]

Quite the dream. Your father is I can tell is a very influential figure for you. Touching write.

[Michael G. Smith]

We would butt heads quite often, but the odd thing was he made feel the love he had for me. He had taught that I must always hug, kiss and tell my own kids how much I love them. I am a sappy dad. Even though my kids don't know to love back without inhibitions, they know down inside they need it. Every time I tell my kids(which are all adults) about a movie I watched they always ask me "did you cry, dad"?

[Pryde Foltz]

That's lovely.

[Rita L. Sev]

This is a chilling and provocative piece, Mike. Very vivid, as though you've had this dream more than once... Well penned.

[Michael G. Smith]

Thanks Rita. I miss that old tough bird of a father.

[SquinklaPsyOps]

Interesting poem where the character describes experience of being at a place alone with no interaction with other characters making the main character of the poem a spectator.

[shallimarRose]

A very thought provoking piece. Loved it in it's entirety.. You dad passed when you were a child I take it?? I have had a few strange dreams myself that seem so profound . Enjoyed. shallimarRose

[Michael G. Smith]

Yes he did but mom went before him. I found her dead when I came home from school early. Thanks for comment. My wife used to live in the Bronx.

[shallimarRose]

Awww, I'm sorry you lost your parents so young. I have not been back to the Bronx since I was a small girl.. You're welcome , it was a pleasure to comment on someone that pens his heart and soul. Rose

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Such wise words from a father. Words I never heard. Hmm.

Anyway, I love the vivid imagery of the poem. I can perfectly picture out what the speaker describes. However, I found the poem very lengthy. This is better if short, keeping only the necessary lines. What do you think? :x

[Michael G. Smith]

I don't think I agree because every time I read it pulls me back to that night, but I'll take your comment under consideration.