Christmas in Baghdad

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Is this the place where garland grows,

Among the olive branches low?

Splattered, cindered, clay abode,

Am I so alien?

Encircled those, in khaki drab;

Paying homage to the bags;

Which hold remains of brave, young lads;

Will I feel again?

 

Surrounded, chains of un-lit lights,

Which only shine in day, not nights;

Illumination betrays the plights,

Should we become aglow.

A tree of polypropylene,

Adorns the tower, so serene;

A branch of steel hid in-between,

That only gunner knows.

 

The air of diesel, not of Myrrh,

As pre-fab dwellings start to stir,

Indifferent as they observe,

Fading of the Star.

A failed attempt at lone ‘SandMan’

Adorned with boots, bayonet in hand,

Iraqi winds displace his stand,

Re-formed in Kandahar.

 

T’was yesterday, on Christmas Eve;

A day ahead of promised leave,

When Paul, Eric, Mark and Steve,

Took leisurely patrol.

In Tikrit, where he was born,

Some sixty years before this ‘Storm’,

They’d set-out on this early morn.

Assessing evening’s toll.

 

Among the buildings, scattered ruins;

Charred men--shadows, on the dunes;

From temples soar cremated plumes;

One hour had gone by.

In the distance, beyond the spire,

Come ‘reports’ of skirmish fire,

Incessant screaming of the dire;

Then screams dissolve to cries.

 

Approach, inside a city square,

Where once a fountain teemed, right there,

Smoldering flesh, low burning hair;

A family splayed together.

Rank and putrid pieces strewn,

Mother’s face, shrapnel-hewn;

Attending Allah far too soon--

All their hands were tethered.

 

Domestic dogs, now on their own,

Fight for human flesh and bone;

Such holy image sets the tone,

As chorus strikes ‘Jihad’.

Eric stumbles, exploded knee,

Bearing witness to comrades, three,

Souls reclaimed near instantly;

Christmas in Baghdad.

 

Is this the place where garland grows;

Among the olive branches low?

How I miss New England snow,

This Christmas in Baghdad.

Author's Note

Copyright 2010, Fegger

Reviews

[Cherrie Palmer]

with so many of our men and women over seas this was a perfect Christmas poem, well done.

[kaylynnmelody♥]

A wonderful peice! thank you so much for sharing and really reminding us about how much the military is important to this country. God Bless the Troops.

[Richard Williams]

A wonderful poem sharp with imagery and exquisite style.

[Dani]

Lovely imagery in this, everything unravels very smoothly. Great write.

[Lilly]

Really lovely imagery and it is all tied together so well. Beautifully written also.

[Charles]

A poem that is crafted well and sends a message to all readers about the cruelty of war. Images are pointed and march the theme nicely. Good work.

[mildly biased]

Fantastic piece, really striking in imagery and tone. Well done!

[EMP]

brilliant. clear rhyme and rhythm, brilliant structure and a touching piece to read. well done!

[George Love]

Excellent work, cleanly written and well planned. Great stuff!

[.]

this is a poignant reminder of a city living in the shadow of war and destruction..the things that we take for granted are poignantly show in stark contrast to their lives especially at this time of year. Your stanza's were constructed with out a wasted word, concise, perfectly rhymed..glad I got to read this.