The Boy and the Bayonet

Boys in WWI were recruited younger and younger as the war raged on.

Your fingers curl close to your heart 

And hope the heat doesn't depart

With nothing but a flickering light 

The world around isn't so bright 

You flinch at the sound of a gun 

With the screams of the dying begun 

You wonder why I call out your name 

And raise your head nearer the flame 

I look in your eyes and see nothing I know 

Only panic and frenzy and a deep fiery glow 

You've fallen asleep under a smoky sky 

With mud in your boots and steel in your eyes 

I offer my arms as your only comfort 

And though my attempts have fallen short 

I lay you down and hope you forget 

Your time as the boy and the bayonet

Reviews

[Tai Ryens]

Drink of the cup, drink of heaven's tea,
lest you face the tongue of the guillotine,
"no, no, my good priest!
I can do nothing but read!"
as they pulled out evidence for all to see;
the portraits of human anatomy.

Yeahh.. The Crusades and the Dark Ages were far more gruesome, although the true nature is often unheard of...

[Rhea752]

That is not terrifying at all ;)

[Tai Ryens]

To sum it up, if you can read, the church kills you. If you draw up even a portion of the human body for study, the church kills you. Read up on it if you haven't already.

[Rahul]

words're nice, enjoyed this piece. starting was great and it's reallly a beautiful piece. Great job.

[Rhea752]

Thank you :)

[Criss ;)]

I got.....one loving and one caring stanza...and the stanza's...
I look in your eyes and see nothing I know
Only panic and frenzy and a deep fiery glow
You've fallen asleep under a smoky sky
With mud in your boots and steel in your eyes

beautiful write "Rhea"
have this 100/100 :)

[Rhea752]

Thank you :)

[Peter H]

WOW , another one with an illusion to a post war crises . nevertheless it is clearly well written and majestic

[Rhea752]

Lol thx :) I actually wrote this one a few months ago and just posted it today. Thank you for the review, Much appreciated :D

[Baby Ricochet]

WWI is where the United States Marines got the well deserved nick name "Devil Dogs." The Germans called them "Trufel Hunden" or "Devil Dogs" because it didn't take long for the United States Marine Corps to scare the s**t out of the Germans and gain their respect. At least that's what I was taught back when I was in basic on Parris island and I never ever question USMC history. When people think of WWI they think of the 4 year stalemate on the western front characterized by trenches ,machine guns and artillery barrages that could go on for days. Arguably the worst living conditions any infantry man ever endured was in those trenches during huge offenses such as Verdun and Flanders when tens of thousands of young men were slaughtered daily. It's to bad WWI gets over shadowed by "the big one," WWII. All those mechanized tank battles and dog fights are exciting to read about and watch on the history channel. The Nazis and Japanese militarists are easy enemies to loath. They might as well been created for a comic book. WWI is politically a little trickier than that.
This is a really excellent poem and I appreciate the time and effort you put into it. The perspective of a young woman seeing a traumatized young man horrified by the violence of war is well written in this piece. Thank you

[Rhea752]

Thank you