the hills
image from imageafter.
the hills
looking down from the hills
to the town below
the apartment blocks
like pixelated lanterns
we can only barely imagine
people sleeping,
reading the papers,
watching tv with a beer,
while we are here in our foxholes,
reeking of earth
the toads croaking
their displeasure
in the weeds, the mimosa, a lighter
flares, a cigarette glows
red in the next hole,
a click of a safety catch,
a muffled cough, an expletive,
under a moth-bitten
blanket of sky,
we hunker down
for the night, cradling weapons,
wishing for a beer
a warm bath and
thinking of home too.
written 17/04/2013
revised 29/07/2013
Shared on Poetry Pantry #156 at Poets United.
If you want to read the original poem, it's here.
© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2013
Labels: camaraderie, landscape, military, NaPoWriMo, Singapore
13 Comments:
It defiinitely would be a hard spending time in a foxhole. You have captured the feelings, I think. A click of a safety catch in that situation would be frightening indeed.
its a rather chilling thought...as somewhere out there, there are those that are right now on duty, serving, their life in harms way...while we sit safe at home...
You've caught the mood perfectly.
Mary,
thank you.
i used a number of "sounds" in this poem to create a mood. :)
Brian,
yes, this can be a scene from anywhere in the world. i served a long time ago, and the event i described in the poem was just a training exercise, but it could easily be in any war.
Anthony,
thank you! :)
You sure know how to "hunker" down :-) nice write.
ZQ
do i? :D
thanks, ZQ.
A very thought provoking poem. I can imagine hiding and wishing for the normal so many take for granted. So well written!
thank you , Lisa. :)
Beautifully expressed
hey magiceye!
thanks, my friend. :)
Can relate to it
This is a fantastic write, kiddo. Impressive.
thank you, Sherry!
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