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Baghdad

Was there pain?  
 Yes, and it was emense.  
This is what I felt in my final hours.  
In my final minutes? Only space.  
My friend calling my name.  
Telling, commanding me, to make it.  
My last memories?  
The smell of burning.  
But of what?  
Gas, and bodies, and metal.  
I move my head to look at the destruction made.  
Just the slightest movement sends me reeling with pain.  
Then the realization sinks in.  
My friends, the Humvee, and what is left of the road.  
We were hit by an IED.  
Baghdad....  
I had forgotten where I was.  
Is that called trauma?  
I look down at my mangled body, and throw up.  
My legs are gone, my arm bent the wrong way.  
And then finally, I look up to see my savior.  
It was the new guy, and I watched him struggle.  
Then he looked back at me again.  
And as he looked back the concerned look was replaced by an approving smile.  
But that faded only too quickly.  
In his moment of checking on me, he left himself unprotected.  
A wizzing in the air and then a dull thud, followed by two more.  
The new guy took three bullets to save me over himself.  
And then he too crumpled to the ground.  
And as I lay there, I could only think of why I had joined the service.  
I did it to spite the ones I loved for telling me not to.  
I made it a new challenge for myself.  
But now I am filled with regret.  
I will never see her again.  
Never be able to see her perfect smile and her kind eyes.  
Never again will I feel her soft kisses and feel the smoothness of her skin.  
I wish I could take all this back. Start over.  
I wish I had listened to her pleading.  
But maybe this is for the better.  
She didn't need a guy like me around who could only bring her sadness.  
These are my last thoughts.  
No comfort in war.  
All I can do now is wait for the life ebbing from me to cease all together.  
And then, I see a bright light.
Written by DrearyAvenue (Niko)
Published | Edited 16th Sep 2012
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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