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SOLDIER'S PRAYER

Might not we leave this cursed place
where all is naught but stone and sand
and utterly devoid of grace?
I've had about all I can stand.

Too tired of false comraderie
from "allies" who'd as soon slit our throat,
they have no use for you or me,
their hatred learned as if by rote.

Gave them a chance but now it's gone,
democracy is not their choice.
Brute force is what they depend on,
there's little reason in their voice.

Let me return, now, to my home,
I'd once more feel cool southern breeze
and one day end my warrior's tome
while resting in shade of ancient trees.

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Structured: Eastern
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Comments

How well you sum up the disillusionment soldiers must often feel when all their bravery seems to be of no use in the long term. We only have to look at what is happening in Iraq, don't we, but then perhaps that is where the inspiration for this poem came from. Many thanks for commenting on my poem 'God?' by the way.
Best wishes,
Robert.

The inspiration for this originally came from the southern war of northern aggression general whom Robert Lee referred to as his right hand. I then applied it to the recent war in Afghanistan and Iraq to make it relevant to our times. I appreciate your visit..........stan

author comment

stanza 2 line 1 Too tire(d) of false comraderie
line 3 (t)hey have no use for you or me,

Apart from that, nice work.

Alid

Sharp eyes but I had spotted and changed those typos as soon as I returned here lol. But keep on spotting miscues because I'm sure there will be plenty I Don't see. Thanks for dropping by.........stan

author comment

soldiers are simply shields to bear the brunt

of swords and bullets
soldiers have no right to cry ,
they should only orders apply
else they would have been in a better position
if,......
do you know
the dullest guy reaches the highest pavilion
where angels fear to tread
soldiers love to go there
till they are slained
dead.
okay blasted too.
if that pleases the soldier in you

But stay tuned
wars will come
what of democracy
don't be crazy
they fight more
plan secret strategy
and over throw the opposition
over the benches
and
you all know it
but swallow silently!
alas as a good soldier
have no choice.

loved

I've heard it said that soldiers go to war for their country but fight and die for their buddies. I appreciate your time to read and comment......stan

author comment

I have just talked to Loved about the Soldier and the ways of the world.
I read a book once pity I can't recall its name but it was where the whole of the British Isles went over to defence, where the whole Island Group was protected from anything outside by its technology.
It traded with the rest of the world through its ports as usual, and became a first in the world in computers and all those tech bits.
Can you imagine the money that could be saved, and the lives of many put to other uses, of course you would still need a manned defence system but no wasted men or munitions for attack on others or yourselves would be needed.
A bad good dream, let the drums roll for the next leader to send his or her troops to death for just being..
Yours Ian.T
PS:- I think the film "Zulu" depicted the acts of war to the highest level, if only the last scene could be enacted without the fighting..

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

Wasn't it Patton who asked what would be the glory of war if wars were won by the push of a button? It seems that this third world war we are being forced to engage in has little if any glory in it............stan

author comment

No matter how wars are fought, there is no glory in the end product.
We are still in the mind set of the middle ages.
Still we are both of the years where we can walk the Earth without leaving a mark, Yours Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

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