We
know wars we remember
stumbling
across cobblestones
terror
streaking before us
spines
shivering us forward
deafened
by dirge of drums
ears
stopped by impact
of
a thousand thousand guns
We
know wars we remember
flap
of flag on dead men's furrows
acrid
scarves wrapped
against
our reason for screams
half-blinded
by sour stench
of
those who wished to die
blood
and sucking mud hanging onto soles
daring
us to try to drag ourselves
to
more dangerous knolls
We
know wars we remember
relentless
mosquitoes and sweating trees
tunnels
in tropical greens yellow with fever
afraid
of stars and shining things
devastated
by shadows slipping in silence
carving
fear on our skin
that
would be scarred by secondary memories
We
know wars we remember
you
were sons struggling to see
through
veils of sand where even shrubs
could
hide a barrel holding hearts in our
hands
offering
gifts of our bravest to end
whatever
must be ended
We
know wars we remember
our
soldiers coming home to heave
in
silent hysteria at what had been seen
been done
trying
to drown voices of both friend and foe
wanting
life as much as death
waging
war against angst and armies
of
most evil empires that strip a man raw
when
not even sleep can douse fires
We
know wars we remember
what
no poppy or flag or medal or metal
can
aptly signify draped dreams
after
stinking smell of rotting things
is
no longer on active battlefield
We
know wars we remember
that
there will always be commanders and chiefs
patrons
and passions who wish to wrangle control
bartering
with widow's pensions and private's paltry pay
to
simply make a point at what cost
what
worth a terrified young heart full of courage
what
wrongs could ever be righted by saying war was won
what
rings a wrathful hollow bell
in
those who went pink-cheeked and prideful
only
to return to fight again
We
know wars we remember
©Carol
Desjarlais 11.5.18
https://allpoetry.com/poem/14177258-We-Know-Wars-----We-Remember-by-CarolDesjarlais
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