Easy.

Most people feel horror at the thought of killing.

It becomes easier the more you do it
The guilty feeling? You subdue it
The gun rests comfortable in your hand
You're fulfilling all that Putin planned
At first your conscience made you rue it
But it gets easier the more you do it

You fire your rocket without regret
Determined, strong, your teeth are set
Your finger, itching on the trigger
The civilian car gets nearer, bigger
A family. Pretend you never knew it
It gets much easier the more you do it

The armoured tank turns at your command
The shell exploding where a cottage stands
A family lived there and they died
A pile of rubble where life was fried
The order is given, you pursue it
It gets easier, the more you do it

The missile quivers like an eager pup
One mighty roar and it races up
The tenement stands, a solid block
That visibly shakes at the missiles shock.
A huge hole blasted, passing through it
It's so so easy the more you do it

It's all over. Now the figures given
Of the fathers, mothers, children in heaven
The enormous count you added to
The strange unease that grew and grew
Memories stir and your stomack queasy
You try to quell it. It's far from easy!

Reviews

[Red Brick Keshner]

Getting used to something doesn't always equate to it getting easy in all senses of the concept. Perhaps, being numbed or desensitised. But something, I supp@ose breaks inside of us that we probably care a little less but it still damages us as I believe it isn't in our original design. I remember having to drive around in a Ford Falcon with a broken thermostat. It would go but there was no easy way to gauge the engine temperature. The coolant also kept leaking. So what we did was to carry gallon jugs of coolant and filled up every half our or so, until we finally got a mechanic to patch her up. Sorry, long winded comment there. Frederick.

[Betty Hermelee]

“It’s so easy the more you do it”; I like the repeat refrain, it really drums the essence of the poem right into your brain and your soul. I think soldiers are like automatons in the sense that their so trained to kill that they don’t really ponder about it. Until, one if theirs gets killed or when the smoke simmers and they see what destruction has been done, then they remember the damage and the memories linger .well written and I like the rhyme scheme.
Best
Betty

[Bryan Sefton]

Like any repetitive job, it's done without thinking. You could be right Betty. Lots of thanks.

[Bryan Sefton]

Like any repetitive job, it's done without thinking. You could be right Betty. Lots of thanks.

[Bryan Sefton]

Like any repetitive job, it's done without thinking. You could be right Betty. Lots of thanks.

[Bryan Sefton]

Like any repetitive job, it's done without thinking. You could be right Betty. Lots of thanks.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome!

[Chris Shaw]

Really well narrated Bryan. I have often pondered how soldiers deal with the aftermath of combat. I don't think any of us can pass judgement unless, we have had that experience ourselves. Most will put it down to all's fair in love and war. Some may bitterly regret what they did under orders. Happy Friday to you.

Chris

[JayG]

Well done. I do have to disagree with the last stanza, though, because in the real world, once it does become easy, sadly, because of rationalization, there's no regret.

[Bryan Sefton]

Perhaps your right Jay, but I can't help thinking there are some out there who regret what they were forced to do.

[Bryan Sefton]

I was watching a documentary on the Falklands war last night. An officer told how they were running low on ammo and fixed bayonets. He jumped into a French and stabbed a young Argentinian. He then cracked him as he died. He was very emotional. It was very sad to watch, but it made me proud.