Still Bravely Singing, Fly

There's no need for storm on the battlefield,
For thunder's in every round,
With rain of shells and mortar falls,
The fog of pain's resound,
And the fierceness of each storm of fear,
Of living dead against the ground.

Some no more than ten and six,
Not one over nine,
Men from behind a poster come,
To the front, line by line,
A fight for a cause that is not their own,
Where self and country entwine.

An uncle, a brother, a father, a son,
Away while every loved one cries,
To fall on lonely and distant plains,
Each buried where he lies,
A comrade, a soldier, standing together,
Until the last man dies.

The first day passes in anxious await,
The second in determined gall,
The fifth is spent in faux-quiet brace,
Like a calm before a fall,
For you'll call yourself a lucky man,
If your tenth day passes at all.

I never saw one who had no fear,
Yet still no cowards have I known,
Never there is a step travelled safe,
But also none stepped alone,
For friends and family and land and country,
With time always on loan.

In every life that is stolen away,
Ten are planted in its place,
Crimson petals from blood-red earth,
Orphans who say "dad" with grace,
Turned to the west, the final price,
We meet with a smile on our face.

For an uncle, a brother, a father, a son,
Away while our loved ones cry,
To fall on lonely and distant plains,
Each buried where we lie,
We fought, we gave, they remember,
And we shall never die.

Reviews

[ElizabethAmBurns]

That's beautiful.

[L. Fenella]

Amazing.

[Akashi]

Nicely done!

[Mark Anthony Games (Hum..]

Stunning imagery. well done

[Masha]

Very beautiful and emotional, I love it.

[Masha]

this poem won my contest, so of course it's amazing! Good job!!!

[Levi Levin]

Excellent poem. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing it. Congratulations on your placement. 100/100

[Danielleღ]

This is such a heart-breaking poem because it truly makes you realize the reality. This was absolutely perfect. Beautiful topic, beautiful, write, and beautiful dedication. Congratulations on your placement in the contest.

[minisla]

shame war takes it toll in this manner. People fighting for a cause not truly understood but with little gain. A job I'll take it..

[Revolutionary]

I am torn on the subject of soldiers I know they all go to war for the freedoms we desire but I believe they have been lied to and the majority have died in vein.I love your poem but I am indifferent to the meaning.Nicely written dedication to the fallen