Left Behind

I can't give it away, so you need to read to know

Gun fire was all I heard, surrounding me like the air itself

The smell of gun powder, smoke, and metal was in my noise, coming from the bullets that surrounded me

I could feel the handle of my rifle through my gloves, its heat showing it was just fired

I could taste the blood that covered my face, blood that wasn’t mine

And finally I could see the bodies of my fallen comrades, filled with the bullets that I smelled

It had all happened so quickly, no one seeing their executer until it was too late

I was the only one who wasn’t hit, my sergeant blocking the bullets that would have hit me

It was his blood that stained my face, leaving with his last words being ‘call for help’

I did as he ordered, shooting the signal flare above me

But I didn’t do it for help, just because he told me too

I tightened the grip on my rifle and grab a grenade from my belt, I had only 3 now

I pulled he pin and threw it over the wall I was hiding in, in the direction of my attackers

With a loud boom the gun fire stopped, so I jumped up and unleashed my own bullets

The enemy was running, being surprised by the explosion

They try to run for the building, but didn’t make it far as my bullets brought them down

Some turn back and fire, filling the air with their own noise

I didn’t move as they fired, not caring if I got hit

But in a moment the air grew silent, my enemies falling to the ground

I reload my gun, my clip empty

I turned and looked at my fallen allies, motionless as they were before

I began my move back to base until a new noise filled the air, the noise of a car

I look back to where my enemies lye and see something that scared me, more enemies

I reach for my belt, grabbing another grenade

I pull the pin out with my teeth and throw it at them, my gun pointed at them

They saw me and opened fire, I ducked behind the wall

With another boom, there jeep was blown to pieces

The sound of more gun fire and yelling fills the air, the two mixing into a new sound

I grab another grenade and toss it, now having only one left

With another boom I ran, jumping through an open window into a building

I ran up stairs, going as high as possible

I hear more yelling, the enemy following me

I grab my last grenade and pull its pin, letting it drop down the many flights of stairs that I have passed

With one last bang I hear screams of pain, the grenade finally going off

I stop to catch my breath, but soon the sound of yelling is hears again

I keep running until I hit the roof of the building, jumping out and turning around

Not far behind were my enemies, throwing the door open as the point their guns at me

They never get a chance as I shoot them down, emptying my clip into the rest of them

I unload and reach into my pouch of ammo, but I find only empty space

I hear the sound of yelling and I look of the side of the building, seeing many enemies

I look in the distance above them and see something, something black and getting bigger

It was the chopper, the one I called for earlier

I drop my gun and grab my flare gun, I fire into the air

As the chopper gets closer, the sound of its blades fills my ears

Finally it comes into range, getting close to the building

I yell in joy, my chance of escape mere feet from me

 But I fall to my knees as I drop my flare gun, my knees hitting with a heavy thunk

The sound of shouting fills my ears along with the choppers blades, the enemy coming closer from under me

The smell of gun powder, smoke, and metal was in my nose, coming from the bullets I shot into my enemies

I feel the floor under me shake, the stomping of my executers shaking the building

I taste the blood that was on my face; still none of it was mine

And all I can watch is my last hope turning its back to me, leaving me behind with no help, no ammo, and no chance.

I was left behind.

 

This poem is from the point of view of a soldier in Iraq, left behind enemy lines.