HE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE CEMETRY.
LIMPING, SCARED FOR LIFE
HE HAD LOST A FEET IN THE MISSION DOWN THE VALLEY,
THE BONES ALL POWDERED, VESSELS DEAD
THE WAR HAD JUST ENDED
A WEEK’S REST AFTER THE WAR
HE COULD SOON RETURN
TO THE CAMP IN THE VALLEY HIGH UP
HE SAT WITH THE CUP OF STRONG COFFEE
THE FIRST ON IN TWO MONTHS
THE COFFEE WASN’T SRONG,NOT FOR HIM ATLEAST.
EACH SIP AND HE TASTED ONLY……. BLOOD
THE ONLY NOURISHMENT THEY WOULD GET IN THE FRONT LINES.
ALL HIS SENSE NUMB
BURNT, BRUISES, PARALYSED
HE WAS FAR FROM NORMAL
HE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE CEMETRY
A COMRADE HAD JUST DIED
HE WAS LOST IN A SHOOTOUT
HE RETURNED LIMPING, SCARED FOR LIFE
THEN AT NIGHT HIS EYES WIDE OPEN
UNABLE TO SLEEP HE TRIED HIS BEST
AS HE SLEPT, HE WOKE UP
HE DREAMT OF BEING SHOT IN HIS CHEST
HE WAS CHOKING
FEELING ABSOLUTELY BREATHLESS
BEADS OF PERSPIRATION ON HIS FOREHEAD
HE WOKE UP
EVERYTIME HE SHUTS HIS EYES
A WAR BEGAN
THE FIRST ONE WAS A GAS ATTACK
THE NEXT, GRENADE
THE THIRD OF ROTTING CORPSES
THE LAST- OF THE TRAGEDY
THAT STRUCK HIM DOWN THE VALLEY
HE FELT A CRAMP IN HIS CHEST
HE FELT COLD AND THEN…
TIME STOPPED FOR HIM
ANOTHER COFFIN ENTERED THE GRAVEYARD
HIS EPITAPH READ “SHAHEED TREVOR D’SOUZA”(1966-1999)

Author: Aashka Raichand , BBA II, Unitedworld School of Business (UWSB)

Disclaimer: The opinions / views expressed in this article are solely of the author in his / her individual capacity. They do not purport to reflect the opinions and/or views of the College and/or University or its members.