Mortar

4 Comments

Tags:
  • Memories
  • ,
  • Fear
    • countrychaos
    • Well everyone, three weeks and Im gonna be the father of a baby boy. Words cant describe how excited I am. Also a little scared. Ive posted a song that Im workin on let me know how you like it.

    Poem Commentary

    Probably one of the scariest things about bein over here (in Iraq) is the fear of being killed in your sleep by a mortar. This particular incedent, (during my second tour in 07) seemed to happen in slow motion, which is why I remember all the details.

    Mortar

    The silence of the desert night is brutally shatterd by the screaming whistle  of a incoming mortar round.
    The Earth rumbles from the impact.
    The cool, night, desert air is suddenly filled with dust and debris.
    Sleepy-eyed soldiers appear from all directions, in different stages of dress, some even barefoot, yet all with their weapons at the ready.
    As we stand there with our hearts racing and our nerves on edge, one thought simultaneously rushes through all of our minds;
    "Is tonight the night I'll fight the enemy face to face?"
    As the minutes drag by while we wait for confirmation from the commander, the dust settles and we see that the mortar landed less than 100 yards away.
    We're all scared but no one would ever admit it out loud.
    Off in the distance we hear the artillery unit returning fire.
    The sound of the helicopters flying overhead fills the surrounding area.
    They're heading out to search and map the location of our attackers.
    Within minutes word comes back.
    It was a timed round.
    The men who set the timer are long gone.
    Luckily, no one was injured.....this time.

    Poem Comments

    (4)

    Please login or register

    You must be logged in or register a new account in order to
    leave comments/feedback and rate this poem.

    Login or Register

    sammia commented on Mortar

    03-17-2010

    Powerful piece here. You paint a vivid picture of what happened that night. Great write.

    Mareann commented on Mortar

    10-31-2009

    Very powerful poem, I enjoyed reading it, thanks for sharing... come visit my website, http://mareannspoetry.ning.com

    Tempestlady commented on Mortar

    10-10-2009

    would ahve named it "a cowards way", i can't imagine the fear and shock/surprise to wake and hear a bomb. Then still try to be your best the next day. Always wary. Love your work, always journey through your mind. Write on......

    1990lh commented on Mortar

    10-04-2009

    wow that is something i can only imagine what that was like, the fear that must have shooting through u, but u cant let that get the best of you u have to clear your mind and be perpared for what is about to happen. excellent write.:0)

    Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion.

    T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) American-English poet and playwright.

    countrychaos’s Poems (12)

    Title Comments
    Title Comments
    untitled 0
    Sins of a Soldier 14
    Colors 5
    Christmas In Iraq 9
    Treasure 7
    Fire Fight 5
    Looking Back 7
    Mortar 4
    A New Pair of Shoes 6
    Still I Will Stand 3
    Death 2
    Our Life 2