Free Verse Poem on Torture

This has more to do with what we experienced on the ground than what the CIA was doing with detainees.

I don't condone torture 

But I know why it happens 

When no one knows anything 

and no one saw anything 

and you're being deceived

time and time again 

by people you've learned to despise 

for being busy little b******s 

killing and maiming your friends 

You seriously run out of patience 

and make damn sure they pay for it 

Our people don't have the stomach for war 

It don't go down with Cafe Lattes 

the way fantasy football does 

It's to much reality for consumers

Kill teenagers with rounds through the head 

or beat the f**k out of them 

when you catch them with a chest 

full of batteries and cord for IED's

What difference does it make

War is an ugly f*****g business 

where you do ugly f*****g things 

that follow you home like twisted spirits

where the people cheer your homecoming 

and can't see what's inside you 

If they could see it

They'd be horrified 

But they don't understand 

what they sent you to do 

So you smile and move on 

and learn to cope with the

monotony of peace

knowing your life's purpose

 will never be

that incredible again  

I don't condone torture 

But I know why it happens 

Reviews

[olla]

"If they could see it
They'd be horrified
But they don't understand
what they sent you to do"

I have no words to adequately express my feelings here.. we are so quick to judge.. sitting here in our warm houses with our full cupboards and our fancy toys.. I wish I could give you a hug..

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you olla. I appreciate it

[Lydia Shutter]

It's a shame you have witnessed all you have....and that it even happens. Brutally honest words. Lydi**

[Baby Ricochet]

tank you lydi

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you that is

[Lydia Shutter]

:) I understood!

[Marie]

I don't condone torture either.
But I think I know why it happens.
And I'll bet I understand a lot more than you think I do.

[Baby Ricochet]

I wouldn't doubt it. Thanks Marie

[ANTO]

Torture happens out of frustration but the torture victims will often admit to anything to stop the torture so what happens there - the info is unreliable and the exercise is often one of futility and counter-productive. But like you say here and I agree - we both know WHY it happens.
You grasp the nettle like it was silk BR - bravo

[Baby Ricochet]

Deals worked a lot better than beating them into submission did. On my second deployment our officers did deals involving goods, cash, the release of people from custody, about anything whoever had any pull on their side wanted. Our second deployment was no where near as violent as the first one was and deals combined with minimal violence from our side had much to do with that. That and they were to busy slaughtering each other by then

[ANTO]

The black ops/psy ops /sigInt guys had a hand on fomenting the sectarianism - of that I have no doubt - divide and conquer as has been practiced by the British here in Ireland for 300 years. Always helps if there is a history of same though - easier to relight a fire from burning embers than start one from scratch. The IRA also got boatloads of cash thrown at them to move to a peace-footing - 100s were also tortured. The torturing only served to galvnise the community against the in favour of the torture victims becasue they lived in the community. The IRA also tortured people, as did the Loyalists. No one's hands are clean it would seem. Much love and Peace my friend

[R Smith]

I feel you are right in every word you say here, it would of course be so good to dispense with war and all live in a worldwide peace, will that happen? Not when there are people willing to kill and maim us because we don't believe as they do, what's the answer...........who knows, good writing Baby :)

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Richard

[Coyote Poetry]

"I don't condone torture
But I know why it happens"
I agree with you. Sometime people forget there is war alive and going. To save many lives. Things must be done. People who speak against things they do not understand. Bad treatment goes both ways. Cutting off heads of non-soldiers and posting on the internet. You must do what must be done to stop the terror. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on a difficult topic.
Coyote

[Baby Ricochet]

thank you coyote

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome.

[icelandicblue]

I think it's a cycle that traps all participants. It's always easy to judge when you haven't walked the walk. I have always been struck by the Geneva Convention...not that I disagree but...rules of war seems ironic to me. This is a timely poem. You've stated your stance quite well.

[Baby Ricochet]

War has a way of fueling itself people who've never experienced it don't understand. Thanks for reading blue

[DIVYA]

War makes us do things we ourselves never knew we were capable of doing. It brings out the beast. The rest of our life is spent trying to rationalize our acts at that time. A very truthful and honest poem that hits the reader.

[Baby Ricochet]

it's not rationalizing so much as learning to live with some seriously fucked up memories. "making peace" with it isn't really an option either. It's so much a part of you if you don't learn to deal with it, it will kill you.

[Baby Ricochet]

I hate to sound so melodramatic but vets have the highest suicide rate of any population group in the US for a reason, several of them in fact.

[DIVYA]

I understand...and I hope the authrorities concerned take a serious note of this and introduce some special measures of counselling and care for this group. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and concerns.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

really agree with the philosopy here...we have to do ugly f*****g things to combat the ugly f*****g things done to us...

that is why it happens...sometimes we do things we don't condone, simply because we have no other choice.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Jacob

[Chris]

yeah... you DO know and understand the whys of it. So very, very well and truthfully spoken.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanks Chris. Semper Fi

[Chris]

Semper Fi...