01bansheeke Posted July 1, 2006 Report Posted July 1, 2006 This poem was written by a Marine. > > Monsters and the Weak by > > Michael Marks > > > > > > > > The sun beat like a hammer, not a > > cloud was in the sky. > > The mid-day air ran thick with > > dust, my throat was parched and dry. > > > > With microphone clutched tight in > > hand and cameraman in tow, > > I ducked beneath a fallen roof, > > surprised to hear "stay low." > > > > My eyes blinked several times > > before in shadow I could see, > > the figure stretched across the > > rubble, steps away from me. > > > > He wore a cloak of burlap strips, > > all shades of gray and brown, > > that hung in tatters till he seemed > > to melt into the ground. > > > > He never turned his head or took his > > eye from off the scope, > > but pointed through the broken wall > > and down the rocky slope. > > > > "About eight hundred yards," he said, > > his whispered words concise, > > "beneath the baggy jacket he is > > wearing a device." > > > > A chill ran up my spine despite the > > swelter of the heat, > > "You think he's gonna set it off > > along the crowded street?" > > > > The sniper gave a weary sigh and said > > "I wouldn't doubt it," > > "unless there's something this old > > gun and I can do about it." > > > > A thunderclap, a tongue of flame, the > > still abruptly shattered; > > while citizens that walked the street > > were just as quickly scattered. > > > > Till only one remained, a body > > crumpled on the ground, > > The threat to oh so many ended by a > > single round. > > > > And yet the sniper had no cheer, no > > hint of any gloat, > > instead he pulled a logbook out and > > quietly he wrote. > > > > "Hey, I could put you on TV, that shot > > was quite a story!" > > But he surprised me once again -- "I > > got no wish for glory." > > > > "Are you for real?" I asked in awe, > > "You don't want fame or credit?" > > He looked at me with saddened eyes and > > said "you just don't get it." > > > > "You see that shot-up length of wall, > > the one without a door? > > before a mortar hit, it used to be a > > grocery store." > > > > "But don't go thinking that to bomb a > > store is all that cruel, > > the rubble just across the street -- > > it used to be a school. > > > > The little kids played soccer in the > > field out by the road," > > His head hung low, "They never thought > > a car would just explode." > > > > "As bad as all this is though, it > > could be a whole lot worse," > > He swallowed hard, the words came from > > his mouth just like a curse. > > > > "Today the fight's on foreign land, on > > streets that aren't my own," > > "I'm here today 'cause if I fail, the > > next fight's back at home." > > > > "And I won't let my Safeway burn, my > > neighbors dead inside, > > don't wanna get a call from school > > that says my daughter died; > > > > I pray that not a one of them will > > know the things I see, > > nor have the work of terrorists > > etched in their memory." > > > > "So you can keep your trophies and > > your fleeting bit of fame, > > I don't care if I make the news, or > > if they speak my name." > > > > He glanced toward the camera and his > > brow began to knot, > > "If you're looking for a story, why > > not give this one a shot." > > > > "Just tell the truth of what you see, > > without the slant or spin; > > that most of us are OK and we're > > coming home again. > > > > And why not tell our folks back home > > about the good we've done, > > how when they see Americans, the kids > > come at a run." > > > > You tell 'em what it means to folks here > > just to speak their mind, > > without the fear that tyranny is just a > > step behind; > > > > Describe the desert miles they walk in > > their first chance to vote, > > or ask a soldier if he's proud, I'm sure > > you'll get a quote." > > > > He turned and slid the rifle in a drag > > bag thickly padded, > > then looked again with eyes of steel as > > quietly he added; > > > > "And maybe just remind the few, if ill > > of us they speak, > > that we are all that stands between the > > monsters and the weak." Quote
trueraiderfan Posted July 1, 2006 Report Posted July 1, 2006 Wow man that is a really good poem. Really makes u think doesn't it? Quote
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