Rose Red Rain in Arlington

"The End "A Poem By, The Random Writings of me. .Kates,Gave a piece of my father back to me.

"Listening to the falling autumn rain"
Tin roof tapping out Morse code to a soul,
To a soul carrying so many through the maze so close to the edge,
Marching slow the children in a line
Of slow Arlington Time, so close they pass, careful to honor each stone,
And the blood from the places where men died
Splash droplets of red,as if from sortes above
Pass after pass,
Thump thump waves the grass,thap  thap the rounds are near,
Thump thump the chopper flies away, no ride tonight,eyes rise, eyes drop
And rose red souls are lost in the tracers searching lights.Brushing a stone the child's Elbow
Brings fourth a twist in time
A tail gunner ,shot dead with,tail and rudder, he comes to a face, of the darkest soul
Wraps a arm around her cool pale shoulders
Splits himself in two ,one for her ,one for the lives entwined in Flugabwehrkanone
Flak,flying,indiscriminate .... metal,Man, indifferent
For the marauder is broken, no flaps to steer only the power of two engines
The hands of a"Douglas Duster"to get them home,hand in hand step by step
They drop the gear to land among  children's souls, and men
Rose Red Rain through Arlington,
French ,German souls, small Christ like ,how did they speak? Insane, lost
In the war of man
The "Douglas Duster "  lost his tail gunner,but saved the"Mole" ... his crew
But it was the Tail gunner ,50 caliber gun,"Flying Prostitutes ",
Call girls of the sky, a "Widowmaker"." Xterminater" Martins'
with "No visible means of support"
The man crammed in the back, who  guided the cowboys hands,
He wanted nothing but the best for his friends.
After the man, Behold the Cowboy  wouldn't speak of war.
But I found the orders;
"Interview the towns" ,that he bombed,he can't "Interview" a town ?
Those were people !
His soul wept, gathered the lost ,
Children broken
His core..his gut..embraced Kindness.
Left their ...souls ,left small... Christ like, broken ,shades of rose red children,
With the men in Arlington's stone pattern soil.
We ,me you ,I ,...live ,because of Souls and Men.

Author's Note

A big hug and thank you to,"The End" a poem By; The random writings of me . .Kates
without which I would of lost these thoughts.

Reviews

[Tina Kline]

A very moving and emotional piece. The tragedy of war. Too bad countries feel so strongly they must embark on wars when so many don't really seem necessary. Maybe 'those in power' see it as a way of population control. I don't know. So many wounded and lost like you describe in your truly well written and gripping tale. Impressive work.

[Keith]

"Listening to the falling autumn rain" Tin roof tapping out Morse code to a soul, I love that opening, the sound of rain on the roof beautifully described setting the scene for some soul searching. Excellent work, the images and sounds of war mingled with the torment of a man sent to see the horror outcomes of the bombing raids he flew. I would think those crew had been through enough, they would all be aware of the human cost and have to wear that for the rest of their lives anyway. Very timely and complementary to my own piece. Thanks for the read.

[lee von cleef]

Thanks, I thought you would enjoy it.

[gombeggar]

at 1st I thought this was a civil war related item...now I see the truth of it...nice work

[Mike Emil]

flank flak flying
like it

[Cool Handless Luke]

Trying to merge with the sand and make myself as small a target as possible...taking cover behind a mere slope created by a momentary wind...folded flags and brass tinkling in pools of bullets down range at a surmised enemy...dog tags on bags because we take our own home and bury the pain here...a staring match lost with myself wondering who is looking back....because we, me, u and I....are worth the cost even at my own expense...chuck, badger, 'ski, martin, earl, mousey and so on....peace brothers...

[David Scott]

You have found words to bring honor to those who devoted their actions to honor. Without glorifying war and without condemnation of those who's duty bound them to violence, you tell a story of those who are left behind to rebuild. Yes, I think this "Cowboy" has penned the story of his "interview" well.
I am honored to have witnessed so fine a tribute.

[Rogue]

This is very moving and the descriptions are fantastic. I was able to visualize it all as I read. This is definitely a piece that the reader takes away with them.

[lee von cleef]

thank you, I loved my dad, I love his generation, they were such doers, not full of excuses like my generation.

[Green]

Everytime I read your stuff I find myself having to just sit there and sort of meditate on it for a little while. They can be quite thought provoking and nothing more so than a poem about war. It brings out so much emotion.

[lee von cleef]

Emotion tough stuff, movement now that I like, Emotion I feel guilty ,like Why do the readers have to share the weight in me? what gives me the right to stain their innocence, am I week ? immature, a bully? when I worm emotions they didn't have, and now they do into their day, is that OK?

[Southern Cross]

This is perhaps the best of the best. Powerful imagery and a melodic quality that draws you in to the life of the words causing a reality alive yet dark. I walked among the graves in Arlington and the experience was beyond haunting. You have captured the haunt in this remarkable piece.