Blade Runner

I left my leg
At a checkpoint
In Afghanistan
I still think of her a lot;
I write it love letters
I’ve flown to Kabul
To see where they
Buried her,
But the colonel there
Told me shrapnel
Damaged her
Beyond repair
I wanted a purple heart
For her heroism,
As she bled out,
Leaving me limbless;
Now I wheel
Around town,
Pissing
Moaning
Waiting on
My prosthetic
So I can be bionic
And kill a Taliban.
I chew on
My dog tags
In anticipation
Of becoming
Blade
Runner.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Wow Maxwell, your lines pack a punch. The loss of a limb in combat would have a huge impact. Mental and physical scars of learning to adjust, and yet this soldier can't wait to get a prosthetic. Thoughts on revenge, ever a soldier with his dog tags round his neck with his future anticipated. Sort of guy who won't let anything defeat him. That's what I got from your well crafted poem. Made me pause and reflect for quite some minutes.

Chris

[Maxwell Ryder]

Thank you, Chris (belatedly responding - sorry, probably didn’t see it or couldn’t get to it.)

[Chris Shaw]

No problem Maxwell. Take care. All the best.

Chris

[Great Aunt Astri]

Oh my goodness. You tell well how horrible it must be to lose a limb in a war situation. You personalize the feeling by calling it 'her', and praising her 'as she bled out And left me (you) limbless.' She is a hero, and no wonder you now feel you want to go out and kill a Taliban. I am afraid war does that. War perpetuates war. My feeling go out to you. But, perhaps, instead of being Blade Runner, could you be Hop Along Cassidy instead? Bless you, for writing this poem with a punch!

[Great Aunt Astri]

PS a word of caution though, Maxwell. although i fully appreciate your feelings on losing a leg and wanting to get revenge, you might find that a young Taliban man writes to you and says, words to the effect, " you murdered my Father, you raped my Mother, you tortured my brother and sister. You destroyed my country. Now I am going to seek revenge>" Personally, although I appreciate the bravery of soldiers. I am totally opposed to war. There must be better ways.

[Great Aunt Astri]

PS a word of caution though, Maxwell. although i fully appreciate your feelings on losing a leg and wanting to get revenge, you might find that a young Taliban man writes to you and says, words to the effect, " you murdered my Father, you raped my Mother, you tortured my brother and sister. You destroyed my country. Now I am going to seek revenge>" Personally, although I appreciate the bravery of soldiers. I am totally opposed to war. There must be better ways.