“Shadows”
Shadows
A Poem by Coyote Poetry
We can’t escape the bad or the good done in a life.
Shadows
My sister told me. “You have changed. ”
She told me. “You saw too much shit and your mind and eyes are cold..”
I told her,.
“War isn’t personal.
You do what you are told. Try to forget and move on”
I kissed her forehead.
I told her. “War was easy.
This world falling apart around me.
I don’t know what to do.?
That the crazy shit I don’t understand.”
Up in the morning before five.
We don’t need no sunshine.
Organization, discipline, three square meals a day.
Old SGT. say. “It will be all okay.”
Young boss at work asked me too many questions.
I told him it is not for him to understand.
When you stand tall at attention. Salute a M-16, boots and helmet of a dead soldier.
You join a club.
The soldiers that lived must carry on with their buddies stories and memories.
Drink a beer on the day of their friend’s death. Can’t allow them to be forgotten.
.
Lying on cold ground.
Waiting for a hidden enemies.
You slapped your magazine to insure it is loaded right.
You light up a cigarette and hope all things will be alright.
Going to Iraq with my gun.
Going to kill some Iraqi sons.
Generals sent Division of soldiers.
Names don’t matter.
Reaching for more stars.
Mama and Papa sit by the phones.
Wife and family pray for the day their soldier come home safe and sound.
Soldiers talk about kids and woman.
Takes up most of our time.
No-one talks of dying.
Ain’t no race or religion.
Protect your friend back and he watched your back.
Soldier do right and wrong things.
A lucky man can walk away from all the shit and forget.
The shadow of war find you one day.
I stood with a mother of my friend killed in Iraq.
She held me up.
I saluted her son’s gravestone.
I go to the corner bar with other Veterans.
Drink to friends not here and missed.
Maybe baby sister is right.
The shadows are always with me.
COYOTE
People can never understand the toll war takes, unless they’ve been there….or they care.
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This is why Soldiers must take care of soldiers. Those who understand. Can help. Wives of soldiers are useful also. They understand too.
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REbloged this for my 2000 followers.
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Reblogged this on Ellie Belfiglio and commented:
Read and enjoy a very talented writer, John Coyote.
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Beautiful description of war that I had heard from all our veterans including my own husband and in VFW. I like to share this story with my audiences.
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Of course you can and thank you Ellie for reading my work.
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