I Thought I Knew Why I Went to Fight
A villanelle of regret
I enrolled to fight a war,
For my country, and so you could live.
I thought I knew what I was fighting for.
🪖🪖🪖🪖
I gave all I had, but they still wanted more,
I didn’t understand the reason why.
I enrolled to fight a war.
🪖🪖🪖🪖
Packed up like scum to fight on a foreign shore.
I lost the plot and saw no sense,
I thought I knew what I was fighting for.
🪖🪖🪖🪖
Whatever we gave, they always wanted more.
Our minds went numb, our bodies torn and twisted,
I enrolled to fight a war.
🪖🪖🪖🪖
So many dead, no one kept score,
I returned to a land of disregard.
I thought I knew what I was fighting for.
🪖🪖🪖🪖
I came back home, but it was not like before,
No home, no life, just ignorance and spite.
I enrolled to fight a war,
I thought I knew what I was fighting for.
🪖🪖🪖🪖
Till next time
Calvin
Submitted for the Villanelle of Regret competition:
About the Creator
Calvin London
I write fiction, non-fiction and poetry about all things weird and wonderful, past and present. Life is full of different things to spark your imagination. All you have to do is embrace it - join me on my journey.
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Welcome to the Winners Announcement for The Ritual of Winter challenge. This prompt focused on winter rituals and the meaning that settles into them over time. The top pieces stay grounded in ordinary acts and repeated routines, letting winter shape the work through pace, attention, and restraint.
By Vocal Curation Team7 days ago in Resources
Comments (4)
Such a powerful poem!! Thank you for sharing!
I agree with Sandy and Dharrsheena it is so sad and a poem one doesn’t forgot easily so sad. 💙💙💙
Such a powerful and heartbreaking piece. You've captured the cost of war in a way that will linger long after reading.
This is so sad and is the reality for many. Loved your poem!