Someone Else’s War
War echoes in humanity,
a hard culling, a cyclic placation
of all that love is,
and the blood spilled in belief,
of righteous lies and deceit,
is but a reminder of fragility,
and in the end who other than greed
benefits.
Young men face fear direct,
and against all odds fight
for country, family and belief,
a delusion of questionable truth,
and what they see, touch and feel,
shatters all that could have been,
in a just world,
of potential.
Instead minds are changed,
beyond redemption beyond return,
when torturous death and gore,
resounds in nightmare minds,
forever to be the canvas of any life at all,
and those who return,
live in guilt for having survived,
while mates and comrades live forever in pain.
Purpose sought and rarely found,
haunt the mind relentlessly,
fractured pictures of fire, blood and limbs torn,
smoke and rumbling earth,
the cries of fallen, alone and fading,
within a mind in comfort, now,
just too much to bear,
too much to assimilate.
And so they drink and smoke
and try to dull the memories,
etched hard in cognizance,
a secret wanting to join their mates,
remove this weight upon them,
and the pain, like scraping dull blades consumes,
caught between life and death,
from war, a shell, a hope yearned, bereft.
Silently they whisper,
it was someone else’s war.
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Something so painful to read and to write I am sure. I think you covered it well, ending with the endless torment they all return with…in war.
Thanks Jackie, its ANZAC Day here in Australia, remembering all those lost in war. I felt it appropriate to write something of the cold reality. Appreciate your kind words. Take care
Tony, it is always good, though sad, to read tributes to those fallen in battle. It keeps us ever mindful of the courage of those who put themselves in harm’s way for their country, their beliefs and for us. Very well-written and so meaningful. It is good to see ANZAC Day so well honored.
Thanks Phyllis, I always feel I should write something on this day and this one perhaps a little bit more about the tragedy of war. Glad you appreciated it. Take care.
A wonderful tribute to those who fought “someone else’s war”, Tony. It seems something Australians are very good at. I also shared one of my “war” poems on Facebook for Anzac Day, but it is already published on Hub Pages so couldn’t put it here. This is a sad subject but you covered it well.
Much appreciated John, I always feel I should write something on ANZAC day and this time really about the futility of war. Glad you appreciated it, my friend.