THE VIEW FROM THE BENCH
There’s nothing great about war, my son,
Despite what the generals say
To be out in the void at the end of a gun
Just hoping you’ll live through each day
There’s bile in your throat with each breath that you take,
And nothing to assuage your fear,
For bullets and bombs won’t give you a break
When the claws of the devil come near
It’s not about courage, or strength, or of guts,
And nothing to do with your honour,
With killings and bombings, no ifs and no buts
When you die as some government’s fodder
And what of your family, your kids and your wife?
Will they be grateful you died as a hero?
When you die as a pawn, the next wasted life
–Their future slashed down to zero?
I sit on this bench, and cast my thoughts back,
To the day my luck failed, when caught in a blast
My life’s colour’s gone, it all turned to black
–Now I invite each day as my last
What was left of me came home in a plane,
They cobbled me back best they could,
But the bits left behind were most of my legs
Replaced now with leather and wood
Oh, they gave me a medal, so shiny and all,
And a pension ‘to keep my self whole’,
A ceremonial speech that made my skin crawl,
Thirty pieces of silver exchanged for my soul.
There’s nothing great about war, my son,
Despite what the generals say
To be out in the void at the end of a gun
Just hoping you’ll live through each day.
Seumas Gallacher
February 28th, 2016
…see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!…
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Moving Seumas.
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thanks , that man , John:)
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🙂
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This was so moving. Thanks for sharing it.
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,,cheeers , m’Lady, Barb:)
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It made my weep… wars… what are they good for???? Just to line the pockets of many greedy people… Very sad indeed…
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..’when will they ever learn?…’
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This profound poem should be publicised worldwide, or better yet, tattooed on some politicians!
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..firebranded on them might be a better idea 🙂
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I could do that…
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
Words, not wars… why is it so hard to understand that killing people never solves anything. That only happens in books…
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..agreed , m’Lady, 100%:)
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
A moving poem written by Seumas.
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thank you, m’Lady, Suzanne )
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Easy to send others into wars. Who was it that said the politicians should be put in facing trenches with bullets shot across them both until they all understand and are willing to come out and sensibly talk and compromise?
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..correct! 🙂
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A poem we seem to pen and read with every generation, Seumas. Utterly heartbreaking.
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seems that way, indeed, m’Lady, Diane:)
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