Title: La Guerre
by Natalie from Wales | in writing, poetry
"Dear Sweetheart,
Weather's great,
Scenery's superb..."
Buckle in a blanket of
Searing air and
Taste fire in the ghost of a breeze.
Sinew throbbing, face scorched.
Camouflage on red dust,
I choke on arid scarlet.
"...cuisine is divine,
Accommodation's fantastic..."
Throat rasps on routine,
Illusory flavour.
I strain my brain to mould
Me a feast,
Incredulous. I conjure the distorted
Dream of a sugar bowl.
Desolate night and your photo
In my pocket,
I kiss your crumpled smile
And touch sleep cloaked in pain.
"...locals are friendly,
Language is beautiful..."
Throw me to the sand.
Convulsive challenge
Through an out-of-place smile,
I look up at a terrified moon
Clutched by foreign sky.
Palm up, face down,
A friend nearby.
I burn under brutal hands
And curse through bloodied vows.
They can't form my words,
They use my weapons.
The stains of lives on our fingertips.
"...having a great time..."
I stare at a panic-stricken moon
And wonder if your gaze fixates
On the same face.
Cool blue prayers
Emanate from your lips,
I imagine your fingers
Striking hope on ivory keys.
The sound is swallowed by the stars.
"...I wish you were here.
I wish I was home."
Recent headline stories of war are the main inspiration for this poem. I contrasted the horrifying reality of a soldier's experience at war with the simple pleasure of a holiday postcard to emphasise the destruction and misery faced daily.
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