Shoulder-to-shoulder

Posted on by Reena Saxena 
 we shared barracks,
 canned guavas 
 in sub-zero climes….
 We argued
 on things
 of no consequence
 to pass cold nights….
 We fought shoulder-to-shoulder
 

 now 
 he rests 
 on my shoulder
 voiceless,
 lifeless…
 his weight
 feels like 
 life 
 weighing 
 me down
 

 I’ll never look at
 life and death
 in the same way
 again
 strong, but ephemeral
 intense, yet volatile
 driven by ideals
 yet vulnerable
 the journey
 from earth
 to skies
Poetics – War Poetry

21 thoughts on “Shoulder-to-shoulder”

  1. The horrors of war….the comaraderie to fight side by side in life and death situations….to trust, to love the person your life depends on and who depends on you. And then to have his head resting on you….to lose him. So so so very painful. Your words tell this story so effectively. Visceral.

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  10. Beautiful poem Reena. Strong and intense in theme. The selective employment of words like ephemeral, volatile and vulnerable point to the apparent state of earthly life. The progressive development of the theme culminating in the final truth is appreciated. Wonderful 👍

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