Of A Soldier Dying At War Poem by Kebe Iwara

Of A Soldier Dying At War



I'm no parlour soldier
for the umpteenth time
i've slung unto my shoulder
the rounds that notch my clime.
No trojan warrior
has flexed than i, more muscles or brains
perhaps i have more to worry or
parched by thirst for glory but drains.
I have shown careful studiousness
to respond to the every malice
of living, which seemed the very shrewdness
to leave me victory or armistice.
But swaggering ghosts bare so well
in my private fiery dreams
of the past, proving to tell
they are unseen in streams
of anyone's consciousness but mine.
I am bored of a maturity
that can weakly my past refine
but more potent as a periscope to see
the vanity of my future
of which my quagmire is author.
We will all die against our foe
pyrrhic should be our victory
but gunned by brusque pleasure as well as woe
i rather should settle for futility.
In this war, prejudices, intellect, skill, craft.
I've seen them all cul-de-sac'd and daft.
But unlike colleagues mattressed in fantasies
and dreams and vain hope,
a medication their wounds to ease
i wish to elope.
I have broken the walls of my bottled experience
i've been following her distant calls
through the path where lies my quiet conscience.
Yes, i'm searching for a highland lass
who tells me in momentary angelic light,
the memoir of my morass,
ends where i end my fight.
To seek her is the noblest artefact
to which none can be late.
Greater than exploits of fantasy or tact
is the courage to ask her on a date.
This lady, minded men call her life.
I will never meet her here, let me be straight
but she would surely be my wife
we'll be fused by my death, she'll call my son faith.
I'm wounded like everyone else is
but not all of us would rest in peace.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Chime Justice Ndubuisi 16 June 2012

I like the flow of this poem. You have a way of gluing your readers' eyes till the last. I like the last two lines. There's something of a firm believe in them; just like everything in life, there are always few exceptions.

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Captain Cur 15 June 2012

I liked the flow and tempo of the poem. There is a strong, personal message being expressed and it adds delight to the reader to try to decipher the writer's meaning. Very intriguing poem.

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