#military poems on Hello Poetry

Heidi Franke May 13

I find self in argument
With sons
Over money, over crypto
Which is a mysterious coin
Being chased by new generations

I am belittled
When giving advise on
Intangible wealth of this century
That my experience is seen as useless,
Described by them to me,
"My Boomer generation knows Nothing"

Told to feel unworthy as an argument builds
Put down as a mother as
My brain pain of their reckless youth
I had to pay attention to
As if the reciept of my womb
Was a wasted placenta
All because of a bit of coin searching for wealth

The riches these young men of mine
Will likely not find from the
Depth of their families legacy
Who will be written off in their own time
Is in their grandfather's wartime draft card, tied to the most important person
Asking,
"Name of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address",
Let that sink in.
"Relationship of This Person" , "Mother"

It is happening just as it is written. I will have none of this. I found their grandfather's draft card from WWII. The demographics included, as you see in the prose, to name a person who will ALWAYS know your address. How much our youth take for granted. The struggle in each generation. Yet, as I volunteer with the homeless, most have no one one to lean on. Most have no contact with their family. Their family does not want them in their life. What a sorrow. Now we have a plethora of entitled citizens , the white privileged who will find themselves alone in their Bitcoin crypto future where they put more energy into nothing worth chasing and trashing the person that will always know their address. Someone to care about them when they could care less. It's a sorrow filled world in these dangerous times. Humanity is losing.

#mother #draft #military #crypto #family #legacy #generation #century #sons #shame

Rhiannon Clayton May 6

Contemplation

Contemplation

I find myself sitting here for a moment, gathering my thoughts like fragile treasures in my hands, collecting my heart as it stretches across the night sky. I carve out a sanctuary where I can discover a bit of solitude and tranquility. I inscribe my faith onto this page, creating a space for reflection.

I write a name that brings serenity to my weary mind—a name that envelops me in peace: God. This peace fortifies me against the relentless pressures of a life that sometimes feels foreign to me.

Even now, I struggle to fully understand how living with PTSD has transformed my mind. At times, I find clarity, while at other moments, simply existing feels overwhelming. Yet one truth remains clear: I have weathered storms before, and during those trials, God stood by my side. Even in uncharted territories, he is already there, waiting.

He was with me when my world felt like it was collapsing, bursting apart from within, and he remains with me now. So, I take a few more deep breaths, pondering the depth of his love for us. How can it be that he loves us so beyond measure? Yet, he does.

-Rhia Clay

#ptsd #god #christian #inner #storm #pain #trauma #veteran #military #clarity

EliMay Apr 9

Please Don't Go

It didn't take long.
From one conversation.
From one call.
To say this three word prayer.

Please don't go.

Please don't go
When the light is out
And the sirens call.

Please don't go
As shots are fired
And the pressure to fall
Is too much

Please don't go
When your demons call
And memories flash

From friend to friend
As these terrifying words
Cross my lips
Just listen to my
Three word prayer.

Please don't go.

For my military buddies. Those who lost. Those willing to go the distance. And those who struggle with the return.

Please don't go my friends

#military #hope #love #darkness #ptsd

Jack Groundhog Oct 2024

Spandau Citadel

There is no pity in Berlin,
a place of prickly wounded pride.

A city of angels
who fell like scars of lightning
from gunmetal grey skies.

I watch old silvered rolls of film
and see flying columns of seraphim
as they march on by
row upon row
eyes ablaze
flaming swords drawn
in a parody of paradise.
They descended into hell
and are seated
at the left hand of the Kaiser:
Gott mit uns.

This sullen scene of no regret
stains the present with the dead and past:
It fits the flinty nature
of the blunt Berliner
under the ashen skies of winter.

I trudge across a gravel path
in the bowels of Berlin,
hear the grinding crunch
of brittle bones below,
and gird myself for the grim winter ahead.

Inspired by a visit to the Spandau Citadel in Berlin, an old star fort used by the Prussian military right up to World War I.

#military #war #religion #fate #history #conflict #hypocrisy

Jack Groundhog Oct 2024

St. Giles’, Edinburgh

In an aisle of a great stone church
by flickering light of candles perched
under finials and arches tinged with gold,
flags fly for blood shed on fields of old:
They wave with wistful dreams of war
and tell of great esprit de corps
in a house made holy for a prince of peace
whose dreams of love they speak of least

A description of my impressions visiting St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. In particular the many military banners struck me.

#church #war #military #peace #irony #hypocrisy #scotland #edinburgh

Safana Sep 2024

Justice for Abbas

Military and militia.
Nigeria and niger area
Predators and Prey

Instead of killings
Why not bring us a life

Abbas and his family deserve justice.

Abbas is nigerian military and he is only Muslim man in his entire family; in many Nigerian villages, people have no right to practise any religion other than what they inherit.

#abbas #nigeria #military #naval #army #air #justice #islam #christanity #interfaith

Kris Fireheart Jul 2024

Howl at the Moon

Spent half my life immersed
In starlight...
Outside the windows
Of my room....

Was raised to think
Everything was alright...
But I found out the truth
Much too soon!

Oh, howl, howl,
Howl at the moon!

Oh, watch the midnight
Blue, and feel the
Lights surrounding you!
And never wonder if
You'll ever be afraid!

Oh, howl, howl,
Howl at the moon!

We find out our truths much too soon...

Oh, bring me a bottle ,
To bury my worries!
Oh, load me a pipe,

And I'll tell you a story.

A story, a story,
A terrible story,
My life for a story,
Of honor and glory.

Oh, howl, howl, howl,
At the moon!

Either drunk or
Hungover, or waking
Up Blue,

We'll fight till it's over,
Till battle is through;
Till we're beaten and Bloodied,

And covered in mud,

And we march home while
Weary, and spotted with
Blood.

Oh, howl, howl, howl,
At the moon!

A poem that I wrote for some friends of mine in Ukraine and Russia who don't want to fight, but are forced to.
They love the personification of the wolf, and so I made it my job to show people how they feel.

#poetry #military #army #wolf #war #fighting #suffering #depression #ukraine #russia

Mydriasis Aletheia Jul 2024

Festina Lente

Bureaucratic. Timocratic.
Stratocracy is not something
I was ever interested in. Is that
why I enlisted? Put these notions
to the test, challenge my philosophy,
And perhaps even change my worldview
which I had assumed was in opposition to this.
The institution, a cult of the state before which
I am canine.
The use of drill
to temper a group
in dynamism, to meld the pack
in subordination, to suppress reactions
and perhaps even tame critical thinking.
We are dogs of the state
and I should not be able to question so well.
My philosophical training may prove
troublesome.

It is oft' discipline without clear intention,
Values that lack coherent articulation,
The inheritance of a moral order
which is antiquated at best
or at worst entirely ill-suited
to the modern world.

If this is the soil from which
the crop of leaders are chosen
it's no surprise what's to follow.

What truly strikes me is the humor,
Which sometimes is incomprehensibly forced,
but as they say: hurry up and wait.

Make Haste, But Slowly.

#military

Traveler May 2024

Thank You For Your Soul

Proud to serve
such empty words
The war machine
is quite absurd
No glory of service
as innocents dies
Sign over your soul
on dotted lines.
Pledge allegiance
close your mind
Thank you for your service
But we must warn you..
Don’t you dare step out of line.

Traveler 🧳 Tim

#traveler #navy #military

neth jones May 2024

misfiring — signals — is — all

.

i wake before the others
                                          betraying the family bed
conduct domestic procedure
         (the sun has yet to rise and punish)
the rooms are illuminated       with the city dim
   projected from streetlight in
a dossing grain of orange
                  wiltered by the sheets
we use to cower our windows

in this near light i go to spread a morning meal
a tray of fruit, yogurt and breakfast biscuits
i bring it too our low living room table
but Abrupt !
       there is a form   occupying the table

i scout for a spot to place my wares
put the tray / direct contact / the floor
                         and make a closer examination
on the table
it is a soldier boy       simple      life spent out

this warrants artificial light
i pull the cord on the corner lamp
   in a glimpse of eyes the bulb pops dead
               i know i won't meet result this way
its a brain pattern going on  i determine
   and remove shrouding from a street view
orange wash lends  to the olive uniform
both hands hitched
to his webbing   in the middle of his chest
helmet discomforts  his head turned to a side
eyes yelling a relaxed nothing
no surprise to his ****** features
boots that haven't even made mud yet
this is clean    but   for the blood reduction
a syrup for his presentation
no fooling  and there is.. the gun

the child in me and the child in him want it
he makes seventeen at most
and it is now i feel
when i see the device

war oversees
makes international the weather

#war #news #military #sanity #hallucination #soldier #breakfast #family #morning #gun