Conscripted Killer-child
Come here little one
From under that acacia
Sure I know that it’s hot
Leave the rifle there.
Leave it.
Appears to be jammed anyway.
How didya get those
Gruesome cut cheeks.
Yeah I know.
But don’t let me frighten you.
I mean no harm.
See these outstretched hands?
See the smile?
When did you last see the likes?
Was it before the night attack
And the terrifying fires
Throughout the village.
Before your mother was strangled
Your brother’s throat slit
Trying to defend.
Protesting Grandpa’s tongue
Cut out? While his feet flailed.
One of the bigger Rebels
Grabbed you by the throat.
Tossed you into his truck.
Smirking as he did so.
Put a heavy rifle
In your hands.
Slapped your face hard.
Gave you a beret to wear.
All eight or nine years of you.
I’ll bet.
In just that fashion
You were made a killer.
And soon a hater.
And a slave.
A slop carrier.
But not any more.
So get in my truck…
Why do you hesitate
I want you to come
To a place of peace.
The orphanage, the playground.
Steady meals.
A whimpering sound?
Concealed. Further over.
Oh, you have a sister.
Come on, you too dear.
Lots of room.
Don’t forget your sandals.
About this poem
Got this idea after viewing the film Machine Gun Preacher starring Gerard Butler.
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Written on May 29, 2023
Submitted by dougb.19255 on May 29, 2023
Modified by dougb.19255 on May 29, 2023
- 1:31 min read
- 10 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | A X B C X X X D E X F X X X X X X X X X B G X H D X F X C E A I I X I X H X X X J J I I X X G |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 1,197 |
Words | 304 |
Stanzas | 47 |
Stanza Lengths | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 |
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"Conscripted Killer-child" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/160383/conscripted-killer-child>.
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