Soldier Boy, Soldier Toy
Poem. Not sorry.
Left!
soldier boy, soldier toy
you gave all you could
Left!
soldered toy, soldered boy
your grave - all you could
Left!
give for the lie, the ideal
Right!
give to the proper propaganda
Left!
*
Left!
poster life, poster strife
you offered your blood and flesh
Left!
posted strife, posted life
a weak shadow, no longer fresh
Left!
give for the ideal, give for the lie
Right!
give to the proper propaganda
Left!
*
Left!
who's fighting who, who even are you?
who's fighting WHO, UN, NATO, and you?
Left!
for freedom and a moral victory
though the ending is incendiary
Left!
ammunition, guns and bombs non-discriminatory
Right!
trigger pull, order called for a hallow/hollow victory
Left!
*
Left!
they're bad, they're not you
they're evil, they're not we
Left!
the will of the people
is to kill the people
Left!
on the other side
Right!
no good, no evil,
Left!
*
Left!
just left right
just north south
Left!
just on and off
just?
Left!
is it?
Right!
Left!
*
Left!
soldiers see soldiers
soldiers see soldiers
Left!
police see protestors
protestors see police
Left!
people see people
Right!
on the other side
Left!
*
Left!
the will of the people
is to kill the people
Left!
no good, no evil
the right, the left
Left!
the north, the south
Right!
the on, the off,
Left!
the black, the white
Right!
is it just?
Left!
ever just?
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: I am working on two very upbeat and beautful poems and still working on my Future Fragments entry. But, this screamed out to me. Not very seasonal, but still important.
Also, in line with conversations I've had with Stephen A Roddewig, Matthew Fromm and Donna Fox (HKB), about easter eggs and references. This was sitting, the bones of it, the initial poem that this eventually became, in my WIP for months and months and was inspired by one of my favourite Metallica songs "Disposable Heroes" from their masterpiece "Master of Puppets".
Here's a link to enjoy:
Here are some other things you might enjoy:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (32)
Congratulations on Top Story - Well Deserved!!!
Wonderful! Really makes you think! 😇
Hi Paul, your story inspired me to finish something I started a while ago: "Run For Your Life" - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/run-for-your-life-6zats0kb2%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
This would make a really good song! I see why you got TS for this. It is indelible.
great content very creative read more - https://shorturl.at/AStV6
The rawness of this poem is so powerful, Paul. Congrats on the Top Story! 🎉
Another fantastic evocative poem, Paul. Congratulations on the TS.
Congratulations Paul, a very worthy recognition.
Bravo Paul! What else can I say,pure magic mate I shall defer to my betters https://youtu.be/PrZFscfJxXc?si=Z0xmqZH8jkJEBEhq And https://youtu.be/INWPh5OTwss?si=pphRKEWBSYFekji4
This poem reminded me of Chris De Burgh’s lyrics in “The Getaway”: “ We're sick and tired of hearing That the world is gonna blow So there's something we'll do to the leaders Before we go Let's stick-'em in a room together Yeah- And make them fight it out Until they see, nothing from nothing Will leave nothing at all”
The Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon Bonaparte’s Dramatic End https://shopping-feedback.today/history/the-battle-of-waterloo-napoleon-bonaparte-s-dramatic-end%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Back to say congratulations on the well-deserved Top Story.
Tantalizing!!! I'm a little windswept with this one, Paul!! Congrats on Top Story!!
Congratulations on Top Story.
Oh gosh. Don’t know how I missed this. This was excellent. Think you’ve captured the current state of affairs perfectly - unfortunately. Well done Paul!
You knew I’d like this.
Back to say congratulations on Top Story, Paul!
Ayyy congrats!
Brave little soldier boy Goes marching off to war Scared little soldier boy Goes marching to the fore Strong little soldier boy Goes marching with shoulders sore Broken little soldier boy Won't march home no more -0- This was a fantastic poem, Paul! I loved it! Congrats on a well-deserved Top Story! Still being conscription age myself, I watch the world with fearful eyes, and hope that the powers that be don't decided that I should die...
This is definitely a gut puncher. A brilliant one. Very well wrought, Paul.
I would say that this is a good counterbalance to all that sickly sweetness of Christmas that's oozing from every corner these days. There is truth in this piece. It's not nice, not pleasant, but I don't think it was meant to be.
It may not be festive Paul, but it is reality. As most people sit at their table for Christmas festivities, many, many soldiers are poised not knowing whether tomorrow will come or not. We should all try to remember how lucky we are at Christmas.
Yeah, it's not very festive, but it's real, and brutal. Well done.
Such a powerful and emotionally packed poem. It is all too reminiscent of the Vietnam War for me, though I know full well it carries more import or significance. Well done.
Quite the poem with a marching cadence for I found that I read it as a march. Veterans are important. Good job.