No Time to Cry

over war

No Time to Cry

 

I was looking down the devils throat as he looked up at me.

He said, boy look to the east and tell me what you see.

For three wise men, come with tales of war.

But today they came with something, I've never seen before.

 

I wandered in a battle field, soon someone said.

As the rain came down, move a head.

A puddle of mud was my bed,

As I laid there and thought of what was said.

 

I cross a river that was blood red,

A short word with a friend, now lays dead.

No time to cry, for tears I've bled.

The three wise men the truth they said.

 

I try to run, no place to hide.

I've search for truth in those who lie.

If it wasn't for my pride I’d stop and cry

For I know one day I shall surely die.

 

As I walked on the trail that lead nowhere.

I stop to look up towards the sky

To finally realize to my surprise

The answer I seek was deep inside.

 

 

But the sounds of war started to ring

As a cold wind swept over me.

While the angels began to sing

It took one bullet to set me free,

And this is a farewell story of destiny.

 

By Mauricio Montoya

Author's Note

I wrote this for a friend who had survived the Vietnam war only to get shot in this country over a trivial dispute.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

To re.open this tragic but powerful poem shows, to me, how deeply the original happening touched you. Somethings one never, never will or can forget. And also, as time passes, other events can be equated with the original.. have the same cruel result, the same ironic result. Your writing has always had so much depth and even in time, means and touches as much as did. Truth is a tragedy, more often or not.

'But the sounds of war started to ring ~ As a cold wind swept over me. ~ While the angels began to sing + It took one bullet to set me free, ~ And this is a farewell story of destiny. '

[Mauricio Montoya]

thank you Emma you even what he may have did he was still a young man to die at such a young age, oh emma he may have of drinking but to be shot by some coward and risks his life for others to be free. thats honor and thats what i wanted to write, thank you.

[emmajoy]

I hope my words were appropriate, Mauricio. Did I misunderstand?

[Mauricio Montoya]

oh no emma i wrote some 40 years ago im just surprise I'm getting reviews, but now you know with our troops well England too its our pain. im old and young has no respect even if our gov is wrong there still our bother and sisters dying ur a good writer and always touch my heart thanks even taking the time.

[emmajoy]

There's so much trouble: sickness, politics, fighting and all in what should be a beautiful world. Take care, keep safe. Please.

[Mauricio Montoya]

well im at home a friend from England said ur getting sun well south part anyway, were accepting a storm may last 3 days ur right so much going on, i was thinking of one poem i wrote "Esperanza" "even the world must shed a tear for sun to shine once again" I'm doing the rounds reading love this site we share a common ground thanks for that.

[emmajoy]

There is deep snow in the North, especially in Scotland, flooding in various parts of England.. have seen gleams of sunshine for the occasional minute or few.. but.. Winter is certainly showing its face in the UK! Your excerpt from Esperanza is oh so true.. Enjoy your time in the cafe, although there are strange things going on right now in here.. it still has the best poets and friends in here! Common ground, indeed. :) Keep safe, please.

[Crosby Idasa]

Such a wonderful poem written, every line drops an interesting thought in your mind. Well written

[Mauricio Montoya]

thank you, its an old piece of an old friend I will never forget.

[Crosby Idasa]

Nice, very good you promoted the writing of a friend.

[ROSALIND]

Wow that was some story within a poem.
Heart felt
I like when the angles sing ..and your are free .

[Mauricio Montoya]

thank you for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.

[Crowley]

Destined to die by the bullet. Sad, serious and impactful. Your painting with all your brushes here my friend.

[Mauricio Montoya]

thank you there's not much to say he wasn't one to brag nor say he was there. when i first met him i did not know it was later when he was dyeing from drinking but he didn't care who would die so he open up and told me all he wants is redemption , i had move on, but came to find when i wanted to say hello he was dead shot over a smoke
its funny what a man would do for his country's risk his life not only for America but the brothers around him who were fighting the same cause only to die here in America the land of the free. that was his redemption because they say that before the guy shot him he said, " buy your own".

[ROSALIND]

Powerful read ...wild imagination

[barleygirl]

The entirety of your poem & author's note kinda blows my mind. First, your poem, becuz it's actually a light & airy read, given that this narrator is seemingly in the midst of war. It feels like this narrator is so mind-blown by war, he's not even really connecting with what's going on around him, but rather, just trying to figure out what to do next. This is the most palpable & realistic I've ever heard anyone write about the experience of war. Usually writers go for the dramatic scene, the pounding artillary, the gushing blood, the wails of agony. What makes your poem so remarkable is that you do not go there, into the drama, but rather, into the head of this narrator, the mind-boggling experience of being so entrenched in war, you don't have time to cry. That title & the way you use it in the poem is enviable & well-crafted. I admire you for looking at war from inside this guy's head -- very authentic (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Mauricio Montoya]

hi Margie wow ur into it yes but it was not me it was a drinking buddy, we work in San Francisco i didn't know he was a vet he cool clam and collective then, but as time move we met again but San Diego he was a navy man so he went there and i because half of family are Mexican i had a job and he was panhandling we became friends this poem i wrote before i join this site i remembered because it touches my heart of a friend i will never see again. thank you

[Coyote Poetry]

A powerful story told in the poetry my friend.
"But the sounds of war started to ring
As a cold wind swept over me.
While the angels began to sing
It took one bullet to set me free,
And this is a farewell story of destiny."
I understand the above lines. I know a soldier who survived three major wars. Killed in Orlando with his family in 1994 by drugged-up kids. Life is never controlled or organized? Thank you for sharing the powerful and worthwhile poetry.
Coyote

[Mauricio Montoya]

hi my Monterey bro, you know that was some 40 years when I wrote that, i think now so many wars, but I don't give an F to anybody now remember i was homeless and im still poor but bring down this country' when our children's are fighting a war, so we can be free. thank you for ur input.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Valentine]

A sad tribute to an old friend. Valentine

[Barbara Walker]

An excellent tribute to your friend, Mauricio. Your words convey the emotion and imagery. A few grammar corrections for clarity-"I crossed a river that was blood red."
"I've searched for truth in those who lied."
" As I walked on the trail that led nowhere,
I stopped to look up toward the sky
and finally realized to my surprise
the answer I sought was deep inside.

The irony of this is so bizarre, I know it's real.

[Alicia Schroeder]

This poem is tramatic and sorrowful, You can feel the wornder and sadness in each line you've written, a wonderful tribute to your lost friend..

[Lorraine]

You're friend has such a tragic story. Maybe it's just means that war is practically everywhere so even you escape one, you're always bound to get caught in another. I love the last two lines of this poem. So very powerful. I've never equated bullet to freedom, but now that I see it, I think it pretty much conveys the word.

Keep Writing. ^___^