we marched

John I really respect this first hand accounting of what it means to be a soldier I thank i'll who served for our freedom..

fantastic, honorable write..

love Crim

. . .an ode to soldiers. . .just beautiful, John. . .

"at last, we approached the enemy
the word spread like buzzing bees
some of the men prayed silently
that angels might shield us
on the battlefield "
I so remember this aspect just before climbing down the scrambling net into the landing craft. Landing was an anticlimax they'd all buggered off. (Thankfully)
Great write mate thank you for sharing this.

A different arena for you John. But just as engaging as your women of the evening.

"It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country" . . . roughly translates to a painful mantra. Dear Sir, you burn the images of war into my mind like a torch lit from hell fires. I can hear the weapons hailing their obscene blasphemies! Bows to my favorite soldier whom pens broken poetry! xoxox, blue angel

Poignant write John.  It's beautiful to see this flow from  your pen to know a different side of a writer especially about a difficult subject like this.
Unfortunately, there's great deal of un-appreciation to men who wear uniforms nowadays which makes it even more sad since the 'war' never truly ends for them even when they come home.
I love the repetitive lines in this poem, stressing the core message. One of your finest!

A kind of poem that can only be written on perspective, detached from the memory...and what we remember are only fragments of everything that happened.  This made me think about my own experiences

"where the girls smiled at us
& wept for us"
~the timeless foretelling of war through decades it seems.

"(in the moonlight, I attempted to write
poems, but they were broken)"
~must just *sigh here.. a most poignant heart bottoming phrase..

deeply bow to your ode of soil and life on a daily.. beautiful midst true tragedy SirJ!
~d

A gritty and powerful look at war.  The ending seems ambiguous:  Is the dirt worth the carnage?  Fine work as always John, this one in the heat of battle...

The fine details put the reader in those savage places, John, and that is important as we need to reflect on the sacrifices these men and women have made. Excellent as always !

To put these words to paper must have been difficult. So eloquently done JohnFeddeler … one that has never gone through this can't possibly know … Thank You for your service … I salute You !!

Thank you for your service Mr Feddeler, we owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be paid. As Remembrance day comes toward us here in Canada this is perfectly timed as an ode to those who fought and died. Thank you once again.
And the soldiers still march on.

Not enough people take account of how often - mere boys are called into service to do the unthinkable to protect a nation ... It's bitter and ugly; yet there are games made from it ... Desensitizing the next generation for the next war for the next plot of dirt.

Bravo John!

A poet and soldier, perhaps once but now both unbroken...there are no words for that; only respect. Well done as I continue to enjoy your reads. Thanks! Loved the opening to the bone~

timeless ink in your signature style
always engaging, mister feddeler
xo

This dirt

So precious - precious write JF

yes that is war as it always has been.a well written account a numbing description.