Torn By War

This is a poem that I wrote last year for school when we were studying the Civil War in social studies.

Mother sits by hearth at home, Stitching threads by hearth alone, Mending holes, red flag renowned, Wet with tears for son not home. A thousand miles across the states, Gates of war, red eyes of hate, Wounded son, eyes to the sky, On threads of red he waits to die. In pools of pain and love and lies, Takes one last breath and closes his eyes. As Mother waits, by-and-by, For brave young soldier, who gave his life.   The Civil War, that claimed two more, Mother, son, both torn by war.   Darling lies in bed forlorn, Her sweetheart's gone, her heart is torn, Missing him, now, more and more, Hating that cursed, that stupid war. Far away, in a different land, Men drop like flies, blood stains the sand. Her sweetheart's running, across the field, He knows they've lost, he will not yield, He sees her pretty face, just as he's killed, A single tear, then he lies still. And Darling waits, by-and-by, For brave young souldier, who gave his life.   The Civil War, that claimed two more, Darling, sweetheart, both torn by war.   Daughter's clutching her teddy bear, Crying, thinking, life's unfair. The bear is wet, it's damp with tears, She misses him so, it hurts, it sears. Father's actually not in the fighting, He's sneaky, he's stealthy, he does the spying. But if they find out--and oh!--they have! Nothing to do now but kill the cat. At least for his sake it didn't hurt, A shot, gunpowder, red seeped through the dirt. So Daughter waits, by-and-by, For brave old soldier, who gave his life.   The Civil War, that claimed two more, Father, Daughter, both torn by war.

Author's Note

Please review! I accept constructive criticism!

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Civil War was a bad war. Most families lost someone to the war. Some places haven't heal yet in the deep South. The flag stood for freedom. It cost a lot of blood to keep the USA as one. I like the repetition. Gave strength to the desire of the poem. Thank you for the excellent poem.
Coyote

[Alice Locke]

And thank you as well :)

[Thomas Parke]

I love the structure of this poem, the narrative body stanzas with the consistent couplet response. Well done!

[Alice Locke]

Thank you!