Do Killers go to Hell?

by Raimunda

Published January 13, 2009

Pay attention in a German lesson? German? Me? Ha. As if.

Yeah, so instead of learning the past tense of some obscure and unsayable word, I was wondering what's going through a Soldiers head when he's dying.


____

Hush now, Brother,
I’ll hold you tight,
I’ll hold you till first morning’s light,
Just lay your head against my chest,
Ignore the blood that floods your breast,
I know you fear what is to come,
Do murderers to hell succumb?
You ransacked, slandered, bombed and killed,
But Father God is with you still,
He knew the choices that you made
Were not for glory, He knew you bade
goodbye to your home, your wife,
To plunge into this anguished strife.
This bloody match of pride and wrong,
And Lord God knows your heart is strong,
He will not let you burn away,
He’ll open gates and let you stay,
With Him, forever,
Happy,
Free,
He’ll say, “My good son,
Come to me,”
And though the lights of this world fade,
And though you are lost and afraid,
You are safe now, safe, I swear,
I’ll kiss goodbye, say one last prayer,
Take comfort from these words I say,
And go now Brother,
Fly away.



_______

Tis 'all. xx

Comments & reviews · 5
User avatar
BFG
Review
BFG wrote a review Review · Jan 17, 2009

Wow! I'm really impressed! When I read the title I thought it was going to be corny and cliche, to be honest, but it wasn't at all. You might want to change the title, though, so other people don't think that.
I thought the rhythm held out well and the rhymes were excellent. I loved the way the reader is expecting a glorification of war until this part:

I know you fear what is to come,
Do murderers to hell succumb?
You ransacked, slandered, bombed and killed,


And then we expect an anti-war poem, but that's not it either. It's complex and thoughtful but also full of emotion; everything a good poem should have.
Beautifully done. I applaud you.

-BFG

User avatar
Stori
Comment
Stori commented Comment · Jan 16, 2009

The main problem with this is that it seems to be one long sentence. Otherwise it's well-done.

User avatar
nixonblitzen
Review
nixonblitzen wrote a review Review · Jan 15, 2009

I really like this poem. I like the setting and mood you create, and the voice.

He knew the choices that you made

Were not for glory, He knew you bade

goodbye to your home, your wife,

To plunge into this anguished strife.


This is one of the only problems I found. The 3rd line is a bit off in rhythm. If you put the stress on the first syllable of "goodbye," it would work, but that's not how it's usually said.

And though the lights of this world fade,

And though you are lost and afraid,


The rhythm of this is a bit awkward. The second line isn't as original as some, either.

I know you fear what is to come,

Do murderers to hell succumb?


This is my favorite. It is so original and interesting.

With Him, forever,

Happy,

Free,

He’ll say, “My good son,

Come to me,”


This is my other favorite part. It flows so well.

Bravo!
rachel

User avatar
Threnody
Review
Threnody wrote a review Review · Jan 13, 2009

Excellent job with this. The punctuation could be more accurate, but it made your point very well.

ignore the blood that floods your breast

Perhaps "drowns your breast," or "swamps your breast," etc. Using "flood" makes it sounds like the interior of his breast is being flooded which I'm sure, correct me if I'm wrong, you didn't mean to say.

Besides this, I think your poem was wonderful. Keep writing!

See you around,
Xx Forever Threnody



[as a roleplayer is feeling sad about torturing her characters] GrandWild: "You're a writer, dear. Embrace it."
— GrandWild