Generals die in Bed:
Poetry

These poems were inspired by ‘Generals Die in Bed’ by Charles Yale Harrison. While reading the book, I was inspired by the points in the book that showed how they could never escape the war. All the high points lasted only a short while, because of the impending doom. In the last few poems, as in the book, everything starts to become darker. The main character is loosing hope.

Quiet

Sounds of thunder far away
but nothing where we are
fighting all over the land
but waiting where we are
we know nothing of the terrors ahead
we just wait
in the dark
and quiet

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Latrine Rumors

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Rumours coming from everywhere
never knowing what to believe
thoughts of battles and heroics
warm food and a bed
but I never get my hopes up
these are just latrine rumours

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River Play

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Playing in the water
we are young boys again
splashing and jumping
forgetting our troubles
but the war goes on
people are dying
we can never escape

Rum

The rum comes
it is our only consolation
as we wait

The rum calmes our nerves
anxiety fills our small space
as we wait

Continuation

The sky continues to rain
the wind continues to blow
the sun continues to shine
as we blow each other to bits

Shells

Locating
locating
locating
fire
flying through the air
target hit
destruction

The Blast

We huddle in the dark
the ground and roof shattering
we know what comes next
the candle flickers
we can hear them
coming closer and closer
then
total darkness

The March

Pain
insufferable
madness
taking over your entire mind
and yet we march on