letter from a reluctant soldier (dedicated to the u.s. forces in iraq)

...........

 

That's a wonderful piece...... so human and realistic. The self-doubt, the anger, the uncertainty. It reads like it could actually be a letter. Wonderful.....


I think my favourite poem on the forum..

Peace,
Aidan.

 

thanks aiden ... i've just got home and read your post ... glad you like it. i spent some time in the army here in the bad old times when we were obliged by law to do national service. thanx again for your post.

 

I just read another one of your poems, Two Young Lives. You sure had a lot of anger way back when. I was always an extremely angry young man too but time has mellowed me........or is it apathy or disillusionment. Anyway thanks for the stimulus for some deserved self-analysis.


Keep writing,
Peace,
Aidan.

 

Hi Jim,

I've taken the liberty of slightly editing your letter to improve the flow a little. I hope I haven't over-stepped the mark:&. Anyway, this is what I did.............


At last my love a chance to write,
Though i've thought of you every day.
The sun has set but the moon is bright.
It's as well for I've much to say.

How I miss you and our dear son.
By now I'm sure he's grown.
I pray he'll never carry a gun,
Feel the Fear that chills my bone.

How eerie and silent it is tonight
In this strange and troubled land.
Soon I hear we'll have to fight.
Its this thought that shakes my hand.

What are we doing in this cursed land
So many miles from home?
Fighting for only desert and sand,
Surrounded, yet alone.

I've yet to meet the people I hate.
I'm told they're evil and bad.
I'm so uncertain about my fate.
My lack of courage makes me mad.

This land isn't mine, so why should I care?
But you know I had no choice.
We're all expected to do our share.
In the end, few will rejoice.

Nothing behind and less before,
All around me nothing I own,
The dark holds enemies by the score,
Identities as yet unknown.

This morning my love I heard a man say
We are fighting for children and wives,
But i believe we'll rue the day
Politicians played with our lives.

I'm no coward and I'll fight to stay free.
I'm prepared to die for my land,
But if I must, then why should it be
On this desolate foreign sand?

Darling, the desert moon is low
And I hope the dawn comes back.
For nothing dampens my spirits so
As these long nights here in Iraq.


Once again, I hope my unasked for edit is OK by you. I think it helps the piece to flow. Keep writing.

Peace,
Aidan.

 

nice editing Aidan ... what do i owe you?

 

Haha....... it was a labour of love, Jim. I really like the poem.

Peace,
Aidan

 

thanx red ... peace bro.

 

i really like this poem, its beautiful...