The Thousand Yard Stare

Inspired by Apocolypse Now.

The story goes

that it was their men who won.

Of course

that's how the story goes

Of metal wrought

and will, wrung,

shaped into, moulded into

little curiosities of morality

An evening sun so bright there's two.

Yet the light doesn't

it wouldn't dare

to enter their eyes.

Eyes of solidarity and

a mind so tainted,

bequeathed by a bullet,

diamond, piercing.

Sincere and well deserved

cannon fodder, cordon bleu

for a noble pedigree.

Their anger, blunted.

Their shadows, linger.

Is that not all they have left?

A silhouette in bondage, cowering.

Shy as death.

Ever so close, as death.

A gaze so unambitious,

so deprived of love.

They, are the hollow men.

They, are the dying men.

Author's Note

Purely based on Kurtz's character from Apocalypse Now, and maybe after reading (and being completely baffled by) T. S. Eliot for the first time.

Reviews

[Kane Hagwood]

Although I haven't seen Apocalypse Now, this poem feels firm in where it stands: needless death and anguish are never worth the price, nor are even worth recanting. Everyone wants to speak of how honorable it is to go to battle, but nobody seems to remember the price of healing, and how many of these folks don't seem to get a chance. A nice poem, even if it makes me a little sad.

[Cheshire Cat]

I completely agree with you. I shy from writing about war since it feels very hypocritical to ponder while I've never been in one, never felt what it is like to see such inhumane atrocities and prevalent bureaucracy. But it is too curious a topic to not sit and stare and think about while enjoying the morning silence. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you will watch Apocalypse Now sometime in the future!

[Matthew Kult]

Such a great movie.

Great write and read.

With love

Matthew

[Cheshire Cat]

Thank you, Matthew. I watched the movie at 1 AM and didn't catch any sleep that day!