
Photo by Moyan_Brenn
The drone and the groan of the track upon sand
As an armoured car rolls over the land
Its cumbersome movement, the desert it stirs
By the haze of the heat the terrain is disturbed
Outside, it’s bleak, not a green blade of grass
Just the crack and the spit like the splinter of glass
The heat beats down fiercely making barren the ground
Inside only by sweat are inhabitants drowned
Excitement and fear as emotions run high
The chests of our warriors swelling with pride
Yet nerves are on edge, the horizon is scanned
The route is familiar, just as it was planned
Eyes glance at each other, as the whoosh they do hear
The sound of a mortar launched somewhere quite near
A moment of panic, then one of relief
A feeling of terror, though only quite brief
Senses are heightened, and vigilant eyes
See a trail of black smoke coming from the roadside
‘Under attack’ is the message relayed
‘Back up requested, please do not delay’
Positions are given and soon comes the sound
Of the spinning of blades as the copter flies round
Under the blaze of the full midday sun
Insurgents caress the steel barrels of guns
The rattle of cartridges spent as they fly
Exchanges of fire flash across the blue skies
And whilst fears are replaced with adrenalin rush
Its suddenly ended by deafening hush.
Poet’s Note:
The poem aims to create an image of the reality of modern warfare.. its ending is deliberately ambiguous. The poem is part of a series written by the author that focuses on different perspectives on war.
Grand poems on Battle Best Poems about Fight Brilliant poems on War
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1 Comment on "Road To"
Very beautiful!