deepundergroundpoetry.com
Just Two Blocks
My friend and I were playing soldiers
(Those little green plastic army men)
When we suddenly heard gun shots
I sprang to my feet because I knew then
I’d have to run home - just two blocks
But when I came to the intersection
I froze when I saw real army men
They were taking cover from the gunfire
And as they returned fire that’s when
I saw grandma calling me in great dire
I could see her yelling but I couldn’t hear
The shooting was loud I froze in fear
There I was, tense, hands over my ears
Waiting to see if I was in the clear
My nine year old brain kicked into gear
Guerrillas to the left and army to the right
Hellfire broke out in the neighborhood
Grandma yelling out loud not giving a fuck
(She wasn’t mad at me, so that was good)
So I said a quick prayer and wished for luck
And for those few seconds that I went deaf
My legs found courage, speed and ire
For whatever bullets went over my head
I ran across the street in the crossfire
And into her arms amidst the bloodshed
Published 7th Feb 2021
| Edited 8th Feb 2021
Author's Note
True story bro.
The civil war that took place in El Salvador between 1979 and 1992 killed nearly 100,00 people, several thousand "disappeared", over half a million lost their homes and another half million refugees went to other countries. Growing up, I'd hear of news of the fighting that took place in the country side, but soon the fight came to the metropolitan cities and suburbs of the capital (where I lived). Before I was ten, I'd seen many slain bodies, witnessed firsthand the ugliness of war and atrocities committed against humanity.
As I grew older and learned more about my country's history, I began to understand how the policies of the elite jeopardize the lives of the poor.
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/poems/346375-massacre-at-el-mozote/
The civil war that took place in El Salvador between 1979 and 1992 killed nearly 100,00 people, several thousand "disappeared", over half a million lost their homes and another half million refugees went to other countries. Growing up, I'd hear of news of the fighting that took place in the country side, but soon the fight came to the metropolitan cities and suburbs of the capital (where I lived). Before I was ten, I'd seen many slain bodies, witnessed firsthand the ugliness of war and atrocities committed against humanity.
As I grew older and learned more about my country's history, I began to understand how the policies of the elite jeopardize the lives of the poor.
https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/poems/346375-massacre-at-el-mozote/
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7th Feb 2021 12:09pm
8th Feb 2021 5:51am
There had been several firefights in the countryside for many years, but the fight was slowly coming to the capital. I had seen several incidents of bodies being left out in the streets, buses burned, people being stopped and taken away, women crying/screaming as bodies were put in the back of trucks/ambulances.
Shots heard in the distance were a random but common all over the time, then you'd see it on the news. But this particular incident was the closest.
If I remember correctly this incident took place in late 1983. My grandma, my pregnant aunt, her husband and I just ran into the house, bolted the doors, put up furniture against the windows and hunkered down in case any stray bullets found their way. I don't remember how long it lasted.
It's odd to say it but you kind of get used to the sound of shooting and ensuing curfews. A few months later my parents brought me to California.
Shots heard in the distance were a random but common all over the time, then you'd see it on the news. But this particular incident was the closest.
If I remember correctly this incident took place in late 1983. My grandma, my pregnant aunt, her husband and I just ran into the house, bolted the doors, put up furniture against the windows and hunkered down in case any stray bullets found their way. I don't remember how long it lasted.
It's odd to say it but you kind of get used to the sound of shooting and ensuing curfews. A few months later my parents brought me to California.
7th Feb 2021 12:44pm
8th Feb 2021 6:38pm
I was born in El Salvador. Came to California when I was nine. By that time I had seen enough, which is why all the gang violence in L.A. was nothing new to me (it was different) but I knew well enough who to make friends with and what to avoid.
7th Feb 2021 3:35pm
Holy crap, Wally. What an ordeal to have to live through.
I would like to know the ending as well.
I would like to know the ending as well.
8th Feb 2021 6:06am
Shootouts between the army and leftist movement were a daily thing, in different towns all over the country. It's odd to say it but one gets used to the sound of gunfire, it just starts out of nowhere.
On that day, I remember stopping at the intersection, seeing the men behind the wall returning fire, looking in their direction, but I only saw what I can now describe as tracers and the bullets hitting the the houses nearby. My grandma kept yelling, people were running to go into their houses, I just had to run those few yards to get to the other side of the street. It was so loud.
I remember she grabbed my hand, we ran into our house (which was the third house in the block) and bolted the doors. A few seconds later, that's when they brought out heavy artillery, it's so loud it shakes the walls and roofs.
Two days later everything went back to normal. The army/police do a sweep of neighborhood, try to identify bodies/persons of interest and move on. I remember my friends and I would go to the houses nearby to look at the bullet holes in the walls. You become desensitized to these things. By early 1984, my grandma sent to me parents in California.
On that day, I remember stopping at the intersection, seeing the men behind the wall returning fire, looking in their direction, but I only saw what I can now describe as tracers and the bullets hitting the the houses nearby. My grandma kept yelling, people were running to go into their houses, I just had to run those few yards to get to the other side of the street. It was so loud.
I remember she grabbed my hand, we ran into our house (which was the third house in the block) and bolted the doors. A few seconds later, that's when they brought out heavy artillery, it's so loud it shakes the walls and roofs.
Two days later everything went back to normal. The army/police do a sweep of neighborhood, try to identify bodies/persons of interest and move on. I remember my friends and I would go to the houses nearby to look at the bullet holes in the walls. You become desensitized to these things. By early 1984, my grandma sent to me parents in California.
16th Feb 2021 3:06am
That's horrible. No one should have to live that way, particularly the elderly.
7th Feb 2021 5:08pm
Dear W,
Cliff hanger! I’m always and forever riveted by everyone’s lives and their stories of what they lived through. You made it through a violent situation, if you have the energy to share the fallout I know we’d all benefit from your experience and insight.
I don’t think poetry gets anymore real than this. H🌷
Cliff hanger! I’m always and forever riveted by everyone’s lives and their stories of what they lived through. You made it through a violent situation, if you have the energy to share the fallout I know we’d all benefit from your experience and insight.
I don’t think poetry gets anymore real than this. H🌷
8th Feb 2021 6:10am
It was a tough piece to write within the 30 lines that the competition stipulated. I just updated the notes to give a little more background.
Growing up I ran into people who had similar experiences, if not more traumatic events like this. I researched more and more stories and wrote poetry to honor the memories of poor people who were the victims of violence and war, to really bring into light the ugliness of it all.
Growing up I ran into people who had similar experiences, if not more traumatic events like this. I researched more and more stories and wrote poetry to honor the memories of poor people who were the victims of violence and war, to really bring into light the ugliness of it all.
12th Feb 2021 6:29pm
This is the most meaningful piece I have read all week and I will close my reading for the day here and take the feeling and perspective that it echoed to me into the rest of my day. This was poignantly rendered with terrific detail and presence. Thank you for sharing from this depth with us Walter.
14th Feb 2021 3:21pm
Thank you very much Daniel. Over the years the details do become fuzzy leading up to it but one can never forget a sound like that. As an adult I did more research and then I felt like my experience didn’t really compare to the harsher ones others had.
I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had in my life and also reflect on the consequences that flawed governments and their politics have on its citizens.
I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had in my life and also reflect on the consequences that flawed governments and their politics have on its citizens.
14th Feb 2021 6:46pm
That any human would have to endure this insanity speaks volumes about the utter stupidity of mankind and it's cruelty it's willing to visit upon the innocents on this world.
hugs, luvs,
buddhakitty.
hugs, luvs,
buddhakitty.
16th Feb 2021 11:51pm
Thanks bk and for adding to your RL.
It seems that throughout history, mankind has been through this over and over again. The politics at many times don't help, depending on the agenda. While the right wing government was getting the assistance from the Reagan administration, to the north-east of us, the Right Wing militia was getting that same assistance (the whole Iran-Contra scandal), you can imagine how that was being funded.
For me it's a distant memory, which is why I take empathy for those who don't have the resources to live in an unfair system.
It seems that throughout history, mankind has been through this over and over again. The politics at many times don't help, depending on the agenda. While the right wing government was getting the assistance from the Reagan administration, to the north-east of us, the Right Wing militia was getting that same assistance (the whole Iran-Contra scandal), you can imagine how that was being funded.
For me it's a distant memory, which is why I take empathy for those who don't have the resources to live in an unfair system.
