On Parade
On Parade
the shape
beneath the uniform
was my child
I am supposed to be proud
tradition chokes
measured steps
shoe shined rules
silence fear
obedience
holds death in check
I want to hold
the hands that hold
a gun
I taught you not to kill
Comments
I echo David and Colin's comments Karen and hear a mother's aching pain in this succinct but powerful poem.
Paul
<Deleted User> (13762)
Mon 24th Apr 2017 22:28
as a father I can only imagine being in this situation and I can only imagine thinking the way you have described - or maybe not thinking, just being and smiling and nodding and wishing there were no more reasons to become a soldier. Powerful yet restrained writing.
Colin
Very Powerful.
If you wish to post a comment you must login.
raypool
Tue 25th Apr 2017 20:58
Everything I have seen of your work has distilled beauty of expression and this is another example - it can't fail to persuade the reader in its message.
Ray