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I Couldn't Help Myself, So I Helped You...

Submitted by Geezer on Tue, 2012-11-13 07:02

It was within his power
He’d trained for all of this
He had the means to stop it
but watched them die of evil’s kiss

There were no pleas of mercy
“Kill me, I won’t resist”
Shoot me with your gun
beat me with your fist”

The question nagged at him
Were they really wrong?
How could they be so sure
could he ever be that strong?

To stand and witness for a truth
he wasn’t sure he knew
After all, what they said;
just another’s point of view

Stay your hand, don’t get involved
Let them kill me and my wife
It’s not for you to say, my friend
Sheath your “holy” knife

How can you understand my kind?
You weren’t brought up that way
All life is sacred, sancrosact
Find it in your heart to pray

Pools of blood at children’s feet
poured from innocent smile
There is such hate and madness
born from evil’s guile

There were tremors in his hands
a roaring in his ears
He watched them smile and die
like they hadn’t any fears

The laughter of those demons
drove him quite insane
Stuck daggers in his heart
sent shivers to his brain

“What’s this, a weakened warrior?
Has your strength all gone away?
Do you not care at all?
Are you hearing what we say?

Righteousness is power
given to us all
We are, just who we are
pride goes before the fall

Rage exploded from his breast
control was thrown away
He opened up his angry heart
killed so many on that day

With flying fists and biting tongues
He screamed out all his pain
With flames and bullets whining
an explosive love did rain

When it all was over
quite before he knew
He said; “I saved you from yourself
I did it all for you”

There were no sobs of gratitude
on the battlefield of silence
They cried; “We've died for nothing
our standard fell in violence”

As he limped beaten off the field
he just couldn’t understand
these foreigners and their thoughts
in their war-torn lands

They’ve set themselves on fire
in protest of this war
given up their lives
“ Don’t come back here anymore”

“Let us die in peace
and turn the other cheek
Leave your bombs at home
let us die here, do not speak

Now the legions of all evil
march in dusty, bloody coups
We see it every night
on our T.V. News

I find it all too strange for me
I cannot comprehend
I watch here from the sidelines
while they kill my friends

But if that is what it takes
to prove my love for you
I’ll turn my conscience off
I’ve done all that I can do

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Last few words: 
After hearing that a long-time friend of mine had called his son a killer for joining the Army and seeing a comment that calls people who join the military stupid, I went back to look this one over and make a few changes. I think that it is still relevant and wonder if maybe we should disband our armed forces to let those who prey on others weakness, have their way.
Editing stage: 
Editing - draft
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

sueb

Tue, 2012-11-13 09:52

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Hi very interesting poem with a message "not at my door" comes to mind I thouroughly enjoyed

Geezer

Tue, 2012-11-13 11:54

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was inspired by a comment made here. The particular comment was, "It is never right to kill." I wondered what kind of effect that might have on someone that has seen the atrocities that are committed against people that want nothing more than to be left alone. The Buddist monks of Nepal being the first to come to mind. Thanks for the read and comment. ~ Geezer

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scribbler

Wed, 2019-12-11 16:22

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was lucky in that I have never been to war. This confusion of purpose and self doubt is what I've often imagined a soldier must feel when at war in a strange land

Geezer

Sat, 2019-12-14 11:55

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I guess the losing of sight in my left eye, [which kept me from going to Vietnam] was a blessing.
At the time, being an altruist who wanted to liberate the South Vietnamese and the rest of the world from the grip of Communism, I thought that I was being deprived of an opportunity to "Do my part".
I understand now, that it would have been a travesty that would have perhaps blinded me in my mind.
.

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Gracy

Mon, 2020-06-29 11:03

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Hi Geez, I emphasize with your poem, having had two uncles killed in the wars. Yesterday I viewed "John Lennon vs. the USA", which is on Utube, quite free. The movie shows all his trials and tribulations for the songs he sang with Yoko Ono, mainly. Nixon, the FBI and the CIA simply hated him, they considered him a menace, whilst all they wanted was peace. Sadly, Nixon and his budies were the bad 'uns and I'm sure John's shooting was planned.
I think it was a good idea to bring back this poem, it's highly relevant. Your title, theme and rhyming are all perfect. I would tweak out some words, but I suppose it would mess up the metre.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts so deftly, best, Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

Geezer

Mon, 2020-06-29 20:17

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the read and comments. Yes, sometimes, I sacrifice brevity for the story and may do the same for the meter when necessary.
I am pleased that you liked this and sorry for your loss of kin. ~ Geezer.
.

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author comment

Geezer

Mon, 2020-06-29 20:27

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that it were so. That there would come a day when no one wanted a war. But I fear that is too far in the future for me and perhaps you. I think that there will always be someone who will try to take advantage of those who cannot or will not defend themselves. Until the world rises up and puts an end to these people; [like the United Nations was supposed to do], it will always be that way. ~ Geezer.
.

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author comment

Blue-eyed Bolla

Wed, 2023-02-22 06:08

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Yeah, a powerful poem. I think you're right about the importance of conscience. "But if that is what it takes
to prove my love for you
I’ll turn my conscience off
I’ve done all that I can do" I think it all comes down to this because as Luther said: "to go against conscience is neither right nor safe." In war, we are forced - as a citizen - to 'turn off our (individual) conscience.' In war, therefore, killing is not seen as murder, even though it feels like it. Soldiers kill as instruments of the state. I respect them though because they do the dirty work that the rest of us don't want to do. My grandad always urged me (when I was a boy) never to fight for the politicians, and, thank God, I never did.

KBloor

Geezer

Wed, 2023-02-22 13:00

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a couple of friends right out of high school, in the Vietnam war. So, I found myself at eighteen, at the draft-board, filling out forms and taking a physical. I was going to Vietnam and kill me a bunch of Vietcong, for killing my friends. I got all the way up to the eye-test, when someone said, "Okay, cover your left eye and read the chart" I read it down farther than the last line, and
then cover the right and read with the left. [Okay, we have a problem there.] "Ummm... I am blind in that eye sir."
Okay, is that some kind of a joke, kid?" No sir, I was shot in the eye with a BB gun two years ago on my birthday, sir.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I want to go do my part! He took me aside, and said; "Kid, you can't go, and believe me, you will look back on it someday, and think that it was the best birthday present ever!" Now, many years later, I agree. I'm glad that I didn't go. I have spoken with many of those that went, and to a man, they told me that there is nothing like seeing a person you were talking to last night or just a few minutes ago, blown up by a grenade or big holes drilled through them with a bullet, to change your mind about going to war. It doesn't matter if they were the enemy, those little, scrawny bodies, torn apart with lifeless eyes and pictures of their families, wives, kids and yes, dogs! When you see, up close, what war does to people, you just want to throw down your weapon and go home. So, yeah, thank whatever fates took my left eye away. Thank you! ~ Geezer.
.

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author comment

Candlewitch

Wed, 2023-02-22 07:24

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you have given me a lo to think about...and to weigh in both hands. thank you for this.

*love, Cat

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Geezer

Wed, 2023-02-22 13:02

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made you think, that's great! If I gave you a moment to reflect on an important issue, awesome! Love and hugs, ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

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lovedly

Fri, 2023-02-24 08:06

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every thing is fair in
WAR AND PEACE
MANY I have seen
haven't ye

OK
say LOVE AND WAR
haven't u loved one too many

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