A Soldier's Cost

25 Comments

Tags:
  • War

    Poem Commentary

    This poem is dedicated to all the men and women of the Armed Services, who currently serve, or have ever served in any capacity. May your fight for freedom forever be preserved in the annals of history, and may your sacrifices of life, limb, and family, be remembered forever. May God bless you all.

    Marcus Lewis

    A Soldier's Cost
                        I am standing in a field, surrounded by destruction

    Death, the soldier's friend, gripping those I have known

    As mortars whistle in, exploding, charring flesh

    That was once held in lover's embrace

     

    My sense of reality is lost. My body moves of it's own

    Volition...ducking, running, shooting, praying...

    Praying to our Creator - amidst our destruction

    Praying He hasn't left us in our final hours

     

    Blood splatters my face, as the man who arrived

    Just seconds after me is pierced by bullets...

    Could have been me! I could have been free...

    Free to watch this carnage from the safety of hell

     

    “Charlie...Bravo...Zulu...One...Zero...Niner”...

    Uuhh! “Two”...(gargle)...”Niner...Need immediate”...

    My Radioman chokes on his own warm blood

    As he calls for help into dead space

     

    The silence is deafening; time and reality slow

    As 'Doc', our Navy corpsman, tries to staunch the blood

    And yet, there is no stopping that flow

    'Radio', who's name is Jimmy, now rides the smoking wind

     

    'Doc' slowly relaxes his body to the bloodied ground

    Hanging his head between his knees, he wretches violently

    And then retrieves the bloody tintype of Jimmy's wife

    From hands that were grasping for love at the end

     

    Is this the cost of Freedom? Of Democracy?

    That one man's blood be spilled, so that another

    Can be free NOT to vote, or pay their taxes?

    So that America can say “FREEDOM LIVES”?

     

    I stare around in awful, cognizant wonder

    At the men that have fallen on this field...

    Will they be remembered on the morrow?

    Or will their memories fade to dust, as their bodies will?

     

    The screams of the dying, the whimpers of the wounded

    Crash into my senses like a tidal wave of nostalgia

    Slowly, amid flying bullets, screaming bombs

    I scribble these few words...

     

    “IF I DIE FOR YOUR FREEDOM...CONSIDER THE COSTS”



    Marcus Lewis

    6/23/2009

    Poem Comments

    (25)

    Please login or register

    You must be logged in or register a new account in order to
    leave comments/feedback and rate this poem.

    Login or Register

    susanismith commented on A Soldier's Cost

    08-03-2009

    Wow, very moving. I was raised as a military brat and only know that lifestyle until 4 years ago. You should read some of the ones I wrote that were patriotic "Times Up...Who am I" and "Soldiers last Word"...I think you might enjoy it. I know I really enjoyed this one. Thank you again for another satisfying read.
    Reply to Comment

    RobWilliams commented on A Soldier's Cost

    07-27-2009

    they say war if hell. I can say with out hesitation that war sucks. I did not have these exact experiences. But I know all about those falling mortars. I got a purple heart from one. And indeed it truely takes the grace and mercy of Almighty God to keep a man sane and in the right mind on the battle field. This was a good piece.
    Reply to Comment

    UnworthyFather

    07/27/2009

    Thank you very much, Rob. War is truly hell. Thanks for reading. Marcus

    RobWilliams

    07/27/2009

    You're welcome sir. I have an athiest friend who was in war with me. He went crazy and had flash backs and thigns of that nature. I truely thank God for keeping my mind in those experiences. All praise and glory to the Most High God

    MSVanallen commented on A Soldier's Cost

    07-12-2009

    The greatest accomplishment a poet can achieve is to create a picture in the mind and heart of the reader and to envoke an emotional response to that picture. You have produced both in this piece, Marcus, and with such stark gravity that it will linger in my spirit always. Thank you. MSV
    Reply to Comment

    UnworthyFather

    07/13/2009

    Thank you very much, MSV, for your very kind words. They are deeply appreciated.

    Heartfelt commented on A Soldier's Cost

    07-12-2009

    Oh my goodness!!! I am speechless... You are very quickly becoming my favorite writer... I can still see and hear that battle. Wow... 10 without regret.
    Reply to Comment

    UnworthyFather

    07/12/2009

    Thank you so much, Heartfelt. May God bless you and yours. Marcus

    photochick commented on A Soldier's Cost

    07-01-2009

    I feel the same as laydbak i am sorry that i didnt get the chance to read this poem before now as it melts my soul and touches my heart I come form a large family of vets and soldiers that are over seas now not to mention i am part of something called soldiers angels were we adopt soldiers over seas i thank everyone that supports a soldier and knows what they are putting on the line you capture that here in this poem so perfectly and show such emotions i thank you for writing this and allowing others to see it you are very talented in your words and feel and see many things others take for granted once again like that in your poem homeless you have touched my soul and heart deeply
    Reply to Comment

    UnworthyFather

    07/01/2009

    Thank you very much, Photo, for caring for our soldiers. They pay the price of our freedom's. Thank you, as well, for your very kind words.

    Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular.

    Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) Greek philosopher.

    UnworthyFather’s Poems (26)

    Title Comments Submitted
    Title Comments Submitted
    The Mask 11 11/27/2009
    Nature's Provision 13 07/26/2009
    Nature's Voice 90 07/19/2009
    Golgotha 13 07/19/2009
    'MOM' 16 07/12/2009
    Doldrums 14 07/21/2009
    'Ole Mater 12 07/21/2009
    Homeless Child 35 07/21/2009
    Haiku (God's Brush) 10 07/21/2009
    Blue and Orange 7 07/21/2009
    A Soldier's Cost 25 07/21/2009
    Welcome to Hell 31 07/05/2009
    Whitetail Life 11 07/21/2009
    MONT HELENA 9 07/21/2009
    Drunken Memories 23 07/21/2009
    Trussed Silhouette 7 07/21/2009
    Delta Blues 8 07/21/2009
    On The Sidewalk Bleeding... 7 07/21/2009
    Fireside Passion 18 07/21/2009
    Three Preachers 9 07/10/2009
    A TRUER LOVE... 14 07/21/2009
    Will I Bow Myself To Thee 8 07/21/2009
    Sweetly, Bitterly 15 07/21/2009
    Mail Call 12 07/21/2009
    A BURNING FLAME 10 07/21/2009
    DECISIONS 19 07/21/2009
    Top of Page